Peacehealth announces CenteringPregnancy Program
June 06, 2017
PeaceHealth Medical Group receives March of Dimes Community Grant
Funding to support CenteringPregnancy® program for expectant mothers
BELLINGHAM, Wash., June 5, 2017 – The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation has been awarded a 2017 March of Dimes Community Grant to support the implementation of the CenteringPregnancy® program at PeaceHealth Medical Group.
The Community Grant recognizes the shared goals of the March of Dimes, PeaceHealth Medical Group and the CenteringPregnancy program of reducing preterm births and improving the health of mothers and babies. Anne Rasmussen, chief development officer for PeaceHealth’s Northwest network, explained, “We are grateful for this valuable support from the March of Dimes. It will make a difference in our efforts to reduce preterm and low birth weight births while empowering new moms.”
The CenteringPregnancy program offers Whatcom County expectant mothers a new care model that employs a group prenatal care format for 8-12 pregnant women with similar due dates. As an alternative to traditional prenatal appointments, each session includes group discussion with all expectant mothers and a provider, as well as one-on-one time with the provider. This structure allows for community-building, active engagement and supportive care.
“The CenteringPregnancy program is an evidence-based model with a proven track record for improving pre- and post-term outcomes for both newborns and moms,” said Chad Thomas, MD, PhD, section lead for obstetric and gynecological services at PeaceHealth Medical Group. “Patients receive the highest quality of care and, as part of an ongoing group, form a supportive community where they develop skills and confidence to take control of their health. The Centering model combines health assessment, interactive learning and community building to deliver better health outcomes and a better care experience for patients and their providers.”
“The March of Dimes is excited to support PeaceHealth Bellingham’s new CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care program providing care to hundreds of women in Whatcom County every year. We know we can make a difference in the lives of babies and their moms when we provide funds to community-based or statewide projects that have the potential to improve birth outcomes and reduce premature birth rates,” said Kasey Rivas, MPH, March of Dimes Washington maternal child health director.
PeaceHealth officially launched the CenteringPregnancy program on May 30, and groups will be consistently formed on an ongoing basis. To find out more, visit https://www.peacehealth.org/centering-pregnancy.
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About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides quality care for northwest Washington with its full-service 253-bed hospital and PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics. Key services in Bellingham include comprehensive cardiology, oncology, orthopedic and rehabilitation services and a joint venture outpatient imaging service. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
About March of Dimes: Each year nearly 4,000,000 babies are born in the United States, and March of Dimes touches each one of them through community programs, advocacy, research, education and support. March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Premature birth and its complications are now the leading global cause of death for children under 5-years-old. Premature birth costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or for resources in Spanish, nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Educational video resources are available on our YouTube channel.
Funding to support CenteringPregnancy® program for expectant mothers
BELLINGHAM, Wash., June 5, 2017 – The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation has been awarded a 2017 March of Dimes Community Grant to support the implementation of the CenteringPregnancy® program at PeaceHealth Medical Group.
The Community Grant recognizes the shared goals of the March of Dimes, PeaceHealth Medical Group and the CenteringPregnancy program of reducing preterm births and improving the health of mothers and babies. Anne Rasmussen, chief development officer for PeaceHealth’s Northwest network, explained, “We are grateful for this valuable support from the March of Dimes. It will make a difference in our efforts to reduce preterm and low birth weight births while empowering new moms.”
The CenteringPregnancy program offers Whatcom County expectant mothers a new care model that employs a group prenatal care format for 8-12 pregnant women with similar due dates. As an alternative to traditional prenatal appointments, each session includes group discussion with all expectant mothers and a provider, as well as one-on-one time with the provider. This structure allows for community-building, active engagement and supportive care.
“The CenteringPregnancy program is an evidence-based model with a proven track record for improving pre- and post-term outcomes for both newborns and moms,” said Chad Thomas, MD, PhD, section lead for obstetric and gynecological services at PeaceHealth Medical Group. “Patients receive the highest quality of care and, as part of an ongoing group, form a supportive community where they develop skills and confidence to take control of their health. The Centering model combines health assessment, interactive learning and community building to deliver better health outcomes and a better care experience for patients and their providers.”
“The March of Dimes is excited to support PeaceHealth Bellingham’s new CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care program providing care to hundreds of women in Whatcom County every year. We know we can make a difference in the lives of babies and their moms when we provide funds to community-based or statewide projects that have the potential to improve birth outcomes and reduce premature birth rates,” said Kasey Rivas, MPH, March of Dimes Washington maternal child health director.
PeaceHealth officially launched the CenteringPregnancy program on May 30, and groups will be consistently formed on an ongoing basis. To find out more, visit https://www.peacehealth.org/centering-pregnancy.
###
About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides quality care for northwest Washington with its full-service 253-bed hospital and PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics. Key services in Bellingham include comprehensive cardiology, oncology, orthopedic and rehabilitation services and a joint venture outpatient imaging service. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
About March of Dimes: Each year nearly 4,000,000 babies are born in the United States, and March of Dimes touches each one of them through community programs, advocacy, research, education and support. March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Premature birth and its complications are now the leading global cause of death for children under 5-years-old. Premature birth costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or for resources in Spanish, nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Educational video resources are available on our YouTube channel.
