NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Health professionals and community leaders are teaming up to get expectant mothers high-quality care by discussing the issues at hand and coming up with solutions.
“How do we create life versus just preventing death?” said Dr. Jordan Asher, the executive vice president for Sentara Health.
A meeting inside Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News focused on the desire to change the conversation around women’s and maternal health.
Health professionals said women’s health needs are often overlooked. The health disparities are even larger when talking about Black maternal health.
“We know that Black and Brown women are dying at a rate that is two to three times higher than White women, we know that there’s a problem,” said Melissa Herd, the acting regional director of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
Several health, community, and faith-based leaders gathered to discuss maternal health in Virginia and the growing challenges women face. A big issue continues to be access to care, especially for women living in rural areas.
“Getting women into care, building that trust," said Dr. Amber Price, president of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. "Being able to get in front of us early enough that we can get to know you, make a plan for your care and develop a plan for after your care.”
Herd said this is the second regional maternal health convening put on by the agency. HHS teamed up with Sentara Health, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, The Greater Peninsula C.A.R.E.S. Foundation, Celebrate Healthcare and other partners.
The special meeting focused on developing a culturally competent workforce, postpartum coverage, birth worker reimbursements, management of chronic conditions prior to pregnancy, and working with faith and community leaders on successful engagement strategies with healthcare professionals.
“We just put together a committee, started planning and then saying, ‘What is it that people need?’” Herd said.
Sentara Health leaders said they have programs working to address the problem like nurse navigators.
“Where we are alongside of you as you are pregnant and post-partum,” Dr. Asher said. “We’ll make sure that we connect you to the right things that you need.”
However, they said they have more work to do.
“We can make a difference and if we make the investments, we can reduce the disparities in healthcare today,” said Congressman Bobby Scott.