Th
e United States has one of the highest rates of premature births among industrialized nations and locally, Jamaica Queens has one of the highest rates in New York City. While there are differences in geographic significance, one problem remains the same- the numbers are alarming. Research attributes high rates in pre-term labor to socioeconomic factors such as income and education. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and the March of Dimes have partnered to find solutions to this growing health problem and address the contributing factors.
On July 16th both organizations officially launched the Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait program. Jamaica Hospital is one of two hospitals selected by the March of Dimes to execute the comprehensive initiative. The hospital was selected based on their unique program offerings such as the Centering Program and fulfilling the requirements of a rigorous screening process.
Jamaica Hospital plans to enhance the Centering Pregnancy program by using an innovative approach to educate patients in a group-based setting that infuses mobile technology with traditional prenatal care. The hospital has partnered with SocialWellth to create interactive digital applications with specific content about preterm labor prevention. All Centering patients will be given tablets loaded with these applications as a tool to help guide them throughout their pregnancies.
Mitchell Cornett, administrator of Jamaica Hospital’s Ob/Gyn department expressed his excitement for the program launch in a recent interview, “Jamaica Hospital is thrilled to be a partner in the March of Dimes’ Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait Program.” “We are equally excited that we have successfully initiated group prenatal care. Mothers participating in the program are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for their babies. By including the multifaceted concept of Centering Pregnancy as a growing part of our prenatal care services, Jamaica Hospital is fulfilling its goal of increasing the rate of full-term deliveries in the communities we serve.”
Mr. Cornett and Dr. Tamara Magloire, as well as other members of the Jamaica Hospital Ob/Gyn department serve on the advisory board of the Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait program and have been influential in establishing the relationship between the hospital and the March of Dimes. They have done a remarkable job in bringing recognition to Jamaica Hospital as a resource and institution that offers a solution to the high rates of premature labor in New York City.
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