Geisinger contact:
Patti Urosevich, (570) 271-7441,
purosevich@geisinger.edu
March of Dimes contact:
Michele Frennier, (412) 505-2200, mfrennier@marchofdimes.com
March of Dimes Awards Grant to Pregnancy Care Program
DANVILLE, PA, APRIL 14, 2009 — Geisinger Health System aims to improve moms’-to-be overall health and minimize childbirth complications by launching a ProvenCare® perinatal initiative that promises to standardize the pregnancy care process.
According to Geisinger CEO and President Glenn D. Steele Jr., MD, PhD, “While still in development, ProvenCare perinatal is a landmark effort. It takes an intricate care process and ensures that every step is taken, every time.”
An electronic record-keeping system has 109 “best practice” patient care guidelines built in and automatically reminds healthcare providers of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
The March of Dimes commends the initiative being taken by Geisinger to help reduce the preterm birth rate in Pennsylvania, and the nation. In support of this program, the March of Dimes presented a grant of $50,000 to Geisinger today.
In the 2008 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, Pennsylvania received a grade of “D” for having a preterm birth rate of 11.9 percent, which is 50 percent higher than the Healthy People 2010 objective of 7.6 percent. The United States with a preterm birth rate of 12.7 percent also received a “D.”
The March of Dimes is calling on hospital leaders to voluntarily review all Cesarean-section births and inductions of labor that occur before 39 weeks gestation, in an effort to reverse America’s rising preterm birth rate. The review should ensure that all c-sections and inductions meet established professional guidelines.
“We know that in general there are too many early inductions of labor and c-sections without medical indications,” said Alan R. Fleischman, MD, senior vice president and medical director of the March of Dimes. “Geisinger’s quality improvement program will help ensure that every c-section is done at the right time for the right reason. We applaud Geisinger and its willingness to embrace our call for a quality review and we want to encourage the development and implementation of such protocols throughout Pennsylvania and the nation.”
In the emotional 10-month pregnancy rollercoaster -- from the positive pregnancy test to the post-delivery visit, dozens of prescribed procedures and treatments often vary among healthcare providers.
“We are focused on utilizing innovation and technology to provide outstanding perinatal care,” said Eric Bieber, MD, chairman of Geisinger’s division of obstetrics and gynecology and Executive Vice President, Strategic Network Development. “Building upon our electronic health record experience and our experience with the ProvenCare model, the support of the March of Dimes sets the stage for Geisinger to expand its role as a national model for perinatal care.”
Geisinger is piloting the ProvenCare perinatal at women’s health specialty clinics at Geisinger Medical Center and at Geisinger Medical Group sites in Sunbury, Gray’s Woods (State College), Bellefonte and Phillipsburg. The program will expand to all other Geisinger women’s health specialty sites by February 2009.
Geisinger’s ProvenCare for elective coronary artery bypass surgery, in place since 2006, has demonstrated a marked reduction in hospital readmissions, complications and costs.
Today Geisinger offers ProvenCare programs for chronic and acute episodic care including diabetes, angioplasty, hip replacement surgery, bariatric surgery and cataract surgery.
Geisinger Health System is a March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign partner in Pennsylvania and the site of a March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program® at Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
About Geisinger Health System
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations. Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of two medical center campuses, three hospitals, a 740-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Henry Hood Center for Health Research-dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org
About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
