A Community-Centered Approach to Strengthening Perinatal Care Connections

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Systems

Background:

• Racial disparities in maternal health outcomes represent a significant public health crisis in the U.S.
• Effective connection to pregnancy-related resources is crucial for improving maternal outcomes.
• Patients often lack adequate support in navigating complex healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility of a transition-of-care program for individuals in early pregnancy identified through emergency department (ED) visits.
• To facilitate connections to necessary healthcare and supportive resources for pregnant individuals.
• To address barriers in accessing timely and appropriate maternal care.

Main Methods:

• A pilot program utilized a regional Health Information Exchange (HIE) to identify eligible pregnant patients in EDs across four South Jersey counties.
• Patients with evidence of pregnancy and limited care connection were contacted by a partner site.
• The program offered scheduling support for prenatal care and connections to other patient-identified resources.

Main Results:

• Out of 2073 eligible patients, 896 were contacted, and 379 accepted support.
• Acceptance of support spanned across diverse racial, ethnic, age, and insurance groups.
• The program successfully connected patients to various pregnancy-related services and resources.

Conclusions:

• A perinatal transition-of-care program originating from the ED is feasible.
• The ED serves as a critical point for early identification and engagement of pregnant individuals facing access barriers.
• This model reduces the burden of self-navigation and addresses common challenges in accessing maternal care.