New model of group care educates and empowers women
RUTLAND — Rutland Women’s Healthcare at Rutland Regional Medical Center announced Dec. 9 that its site was approved for CenteringPregnancy®, a holistic childbirth program committed to the empowerment of pregnant women.
“This is an exciting time for our practice as we offer CenteringPregnancy, a nationally recognized model of care,” said Kathleen Craig, MSN, RN, and director of Rutland Women’s Healthcare.
In CenteringPregnancy, pregnant women with similar due dates join together in a group with their healthcare providers. They receive all the components of prenatal care, including health assessment, education and support. There is facilitated discussion of pregnancy, birth and newborn care as well as overall health, stress management, etc. Studies in sample populations show Centering care increases breastfeeding rates and duration of breastfeeding. Patient and provider satisfaction are higher than traditional care.
Under the centering model, patients meet with their care provider and other group participants for an extended period of time, usually two hours, at regularly scheduled visits over the course of their care. Centering promotes greater patient engagement, personal empowerment and community building.
Centering Pregnancy site approval is a quality assurance activity that provides practices with expertise, support and guidance to strengthen Centering. It is official recognition that a Centering site has met the standards that are specific to the model and the 13 Essential Elements of Centering.
More than 500,000 babies are born prematurely in the United States each year, an estimated lifetime cost to society of $26 billion. A 2007 multi-site randomized controlled trial conducted by Yale and Emory researchers found that participation in CenteringPregnancy® care reduced the risk of premature birth by 33 percent compared to traditional prenatal care. Researchers concluded CenteringPregnancy care “resulted in equal or improved perinatal outcomes at no added cost.”
“We are excited to work with Rutland Women’s Healthcare to expand CenteringPregnancy in Vermont. They join a growing number of Centering practice sites throughout the U.S. who are demonstrating better outcomes and high patient satisfaction,” said Colleen Senterfitt, chief operating officer for Centering.
For more information visit www.centeringhealthcare.org.
