Mom’s Health
Mom’s Health
Black women die at 3x’s the rate as their white counterparts and Pee Dee Healthy Start Eliminating Disparities Maternal Mortality and Morbidity (MMM) services focuses on the leading risk factors associated with maternal mortality. The goal of MMM is to combat infant mortality and maternal mortality and morbidity in rural communities within the Pee Dee Region. MMM services and activities focus on these risk factors including advanced maternal age, hypertension/coronary artery disease, diabetes, anemia, preeclampsia/toxemia, depression, morbid obesity, and any comorbidity.
(MMM) services
The PDHS approach to MMM services provides all clients with an assigned community health worker (CHW). CHWs work to establish and maintain trust and help participants access and connect to health and social services in the community. Medium and high-risk clients are assigned a case manager (CM). The CM works with participants to alleviate social determinants which can lead to additional stress. Many times, CMs advocate for participant’s care, acting as the voice to eliminate disparities. Case Managers also teach participants how to advocate for themselves and become empowered to actively participate in their healthcare. [Learn More Here about PDHS MMM Services]
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Participants who are classified as high-risk for maternal mortality and in need of enhanced coordination are referred to our Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Initiative (MMM) to receive intensive services including:
- individualized education relevant to their condition(s)
- increased client contacts and longer monitoring period during pregnancy and post-pregnancy (calls/visits once per week or twice per month versus once per month)
- participate in a self-monitoring blood pressure program (if eligible),
- and participants at high-risk for maternal mortality and morbidity may be referred to a specialist.
MMM services and activities are coordinated by a full-time registered nurse clinical specialist (CS) and direct services are provided by a nurse practitioner (NP). The CS provides education to CHWs, CMs and NPs on the early warning signs of labor and other obstetric emergencies, hypertension, diabetes, etc. She consults with the CMs, CHWs, NP, and other team members to ensure continuity of care for pregnant and postpartum women to design care coordination, and care plans. The NP provides medical services to targeted high-risk women with advanced age or diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, anemia or exhibit depressive symptoms. The NP provides one-on-one counseling and education to support healthy lifestyle modifications, medication compliance, risk factors associated with premature labor and delivery or general concerns of pregnancy such as nausea. The NP works with the CHWs, CMs, physicians, clinics, and other providers to ensure the best outcome for the participant and her infant.