Blessing Hospital is among 12 organizations in Illinois that has received a portion of $4.5 million in grants, through the state’s Birth Equity Initiative, to decrease pregnancy-related complications and deaths. Blessing received a $400,000 grant.
“We know that maternal morbidity and mortality has continued to rise across the country,” said Jessica Curry, MD, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Blessing Health and the physician leader of Blessing’s Women’s and Children service.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that between 2015 and 2020, pregnancy-related deaths increased by 40%.
“We also know women who are supported both at home and by their healthcare providers can have safe and successful outcomes,” she added.
“This is a big deal,” said Jamie Kane, DNP, MBA, RN, administrative director Women’s Health Services, Blessing Health, and ambulatory associate chief nursing officer.
“These are resources that don’t come easily and will have long lasting impacts on the families that we serve,” she added.
How the grant will be invested
Blessing will invest the grant money to hire community health workers and expand access to doulas in the community.
Community health workers visit the homes of at-risk families to identify needs and connect families with agencies that can provide access to the resources they need to reduce pregnancy complication risks. Those resources could be for transportation to and from medical appointments, assistance obtaining food, medication and housing, and substance use disorder treatment if needed.
"Community health workers will come alongside women where they are, versus families having an expectation that they always have to come to the resource. The community health worker may meet with them in their home, provider's office, partnering community agency, or wherever the family is most comfortable.
That is huge when it comes to having a positive outcome and healthcare experience,” Kane said.
“The goal is not only to provide access through referrals, but to provide follow-up to ensure at-risk patients face no challenges in accessing the assistance they need to reduce their risk for pregnancy complications,” added Dr. Curry.
“It can be easy to become lost in the system before making a successful connection for help,” Kane added.
Doulas are individuals trained and certified to provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest experience possible.
Late last year, Blessing sponsored a class in which 14 people received doula training. The grant will help pay for those people to become certified with the State of Illinois so they may provide care to pregnant women.
“Doulas are often our eyes and ears as they visit and work with families in the home,” said Dr. Curry. “They can help women identify needs for which they should see a doctor or nurse practitioner. Oftentimes women shoulder that responsibility alone, without help, because they think that is what moms are supposed to do.”
“The effects of this grant will be long term with the investment in community health workers and doulas,” Kane concluded.”
Other initiatives in which Blessing will invest the grant money are enhancing other forms of education and support available to pregnant women and their families.
Blessing Hospital has been part of the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s Birth Equity Project since 2021. It is a program of caregivers, patients, public health leaders and policy makers working to improve healthcare and outcomes for mothers and babies across the state.