Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
LCH prenatal care initiative
WEST GROVE >> La Comunidad Hispana (LCH) officials have announced the launch of its new initiative to transform the way prenatal care is offered: Centering Pregnancy.
This initiative was created by the Centering Healthcare Institute, and is an evidence-based care model designed to increase social connection during pregnancy, overcome isolation and depression, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of both mothers and babies.
The Centering Pregnancy model of care will focus primarily on group sessions for prenatal patients, enabling them to receive much more health education that they could receive in a traditional clinical appointment. Sessions will be comprised of small groups of patients in the same stage of pregnancy, enabling them to share experiences and solve problems together.
The Centering Pregnancy model has been shown to increase the time each patient spends with their provider tenfold, and to decrease the social isolation and perinatal depression that all too frequently accompany pregnancy. The result is happier moms and fewer premature and low birthweight infants.
Board Chair Ronan Gannon noted, “At LCH, our goal is always to anticipate our patients’ needs and help them overcome their barriers to good health. So many of the expecting moms we serve are isolated and don’t have the support system they need. Centering will help them to stay connected and to take care of themselves and each other.”
LCH’s Women’s Health Center, at 105 Vineyard Drive in West Grove, PA, will host a Centering Pregnancy Kickoff to formally launch the program, which will begin group sessions in September. Anyone interesting in attending the kickoff to learn more, please contact LeeAnn Riloff at lriloff@lchps.org.
The Centering Pregnancy model of care will focus primarily on group sessions for prenatal patients, enabling them to receive much more health education that they could receive in a traditional clinical appointment.