Unity Health Care’s Post

As we wrap up Black Maternal Health Week, I want to take a moment to celebrate that U.S News & World Report recognized Novant Health for its work in tackling disparities in maternal and infant health. Two of our hospitals—Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and Novant Health Matthews Medical Center—are among only 26 hospitals nationwide recognized for excellence in supporting Black mothers and their babies. Black women in the U.S. have one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, and they are twice as likely to lose an infant to premature death. In less than a year since announcing our three-tiered strategy to address this disparity, we have seen an increase in maternal patient experience scores across the board, outperforming national and statewide benchmarks. There is more work to be done, but this recognition from U.S. News & World Report validates that the Novant Health team is making a difference for those who trust us with their care. https://lnkd.in/eQXn_SqJ #BMHW24 #MaternalCare #BirthEquity #PatientCenteredCare

The More in Common Alliance started as an idea to find a way to end the hashtag#healthequity gap(s) experienced by underserved and underrepresented communities. The idea grew into a $100M partnership between CommonSpirit Health and @Morehouse School of Medicine. The results cited in this article fertilized that idea and accelerated it becoming a reality. From the article: "KFF 2023 survey data show that Black adults who have more visits with providers who share their racial or ethnic background report more positive provider interactions. They also are more likely to trust doctors and other health care providers to do what is right for them and their community all or most of the time. Other research suggests that patient and provider racial concordance may contribute to improved health care use and health outcomes including lower emergency department use, reductions in racial disparities in mortality for Black infants, and increased visits for preventative care and treatment. However, Black adults are less likely than White adults to have most of their visits with a provider who has a shared background due to underrepresentation in the healthcare workforce." Join us, as Veronica Mallett leads the charge towards leveling the landscape of hashtag#healthcareproviders so all patients can get the equitable care they deserve. We are on a mission to do hashtag#Morein2024! https://lnkd.in/d87xi2pA

Beyond words, we NEED action. The Mama's First Act is a step in the right direction, but I said it once I’ll say it again – Black bodies have historically been undervalued in the healthcare system. Low funding for initiatives aimed at improving Black maternal health outcomes is a glaring symptom of this reality. This time, let's make sure "Mamas First Act" is as effective as they say. We need to hold ourselves and policymakers accountable for: •Effective implementation: Ensure the allocated funds translate into tangible improvements in Black maternal health outcomes. •Transparency and accountability: Track progress and hold institutions responsible for delivering on the promises of the Mamas First Act. •Long-term commitment: Building a just healthcare system requires sustained investment, not just a one-time fix. Black mothers deserve better. Let's turn hope into action and make sure the Mama's First Act becomes a turning point for Black maternal health.

Did you know that the United States is one of the riskiest places in the developed world to give birth? And in our state alone, the numbers for Black birth mortality are staggering. Using data and information from the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC) White Paper Report, here’s what we learned: 🟣Nebraska's pregnancy-associated mortality ratio was almost 3 times more in Black birthing people than in White birthing people (Division of Public Health, 2023). 🟣Despite involving only 7.5% of Nebraska's birthing population, Black women account for 20% of pregnancy-associated deaths. We don’t want to just throw statistics around because behind the numbers are real lives and families impacted by preventable tragedies. Let’s get to some of the root causes! Systemic racism, implicit bias, and historical injustices ingrained in our healthcare system have created higher-risk pregnancies and fatal disparities for Black birthing people. It’s disgusting. But there’s hope! ✨ We must protect access to Black Doula care, create community-based change, and hold the healthcare system accountable! This weekend is the perfect time to dive into this report and educate yourself on what’s happening right here in Nebraska. Let’s advocate for change together because when we unite, the system has no choice but to hear us! Read the report here: https://ow.ly/jLin50Rpvgz

During this Black Maternal Health Week, I wanted to share an outrageous fact: black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This is unacceptable and needs to change. We must put an end to medical gaslighting, a form of medical discrimination where healthcare providers dismiss or downplay a patient's symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment.   The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 is a step in the right direction. It aims to address the maternal health crisis in the US by investing in community-based organizations, improving access to care, and promoting equity in maternal health outcomes. But we can't stop there. We need to continue to raise awareness and demand action to ensure that black mothers receive the care they deserve.   Together, we can make a difference and save lives! Listening, advocating and activating are critical all year long, not just this week.   #BMHW24 #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #EndMedicalGaslighting #SaveBlackMothers #MaternalHealthEquity

Join the AIM program as we recognize Black Maternal Health Week this April 11 - 17, 2024. This Black Mamas Matter Alliance-founded and led campaign highlights reproductive health, autonomy, and equitable, high-quality, patient-centered care. These concepts are the core of all AIM objectives as we seek to amplify this important focus, learning from Black-led organizations and Black advocates and scholars while supporting best practices that make birth safer, improve maternal health outcomes, and save lives. https://buff.ly/3U5zUOu

🌟Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week April 11-17th🌟 This week, we come together to honor and advocate during Black Maternal Health Week. As we celebrate the courage and resilience of Black mothers, we also recognize the urgent work that lies ahead. Despite advances, Black women continue to face significant disparities in maternal health outcomes. This is not just a statistic; it’s a call to action. We must strive for equity, pushing for better access to quality healthcare, comprehensive support, and respectful treatment. We've seen inspiring progress through dedicated activism, community leadership, and policy change. Let’s use this momentum to catalyze further change. Every step we take is a step toward a future where all mothers have the support and care they deserve. Together, we can turn hope into action. Let’s stand united for maternal health, justice, and equity. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #MaternalJustice #HealthEquity #BMHW24 🌍💪🏾✨ https://lnkd.in/ejKG2KQm

“A recent Minnesota Department of Health report indicated that…Black Minnesotans represent 13% of the birthing population but made up 27% of pregnancy-associated deaths between 2017 and 2019. What is more unnerving is that this tragic reality cannot be attributed to biological differences but rather to the structural racism that pervades our society. Factors such as lack of access to quality health care and culturally concordant care, racial bias and discrimination within health care settings, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental stressors all contribute to the elevated risk of maternal death among Black mothers and birthers.” Read more from Foundation board chair Bukata Hayes on ways to ensure safer and more equitable care for all birthers, babies and families, including how the Foundation is supporting community-led solutions of partners like the African American Babies Coalition and Roots Community Birth Center: https://lnkd.in/gE_NJXa8

In this new report, D&S Research Analyst Joan Mukogosi considers a question often overlooked when considering solutions to the Black maternal health crisis: How might digital technologies meant to improve health outcomes for Black birthing people be producing new forms of harm?   In the US, Black birthing people face disproportionately high rates of pregnancy-related deaths. At the same time, many of the most prominent interventions in birth-related care rely on forms of intensified data collection. This reliance on data comes with considerable risks, including its incorporation into carceral systems that monitor, constrain, and discipline Black individuals — a risk exacerbated by a post-Dobbs climate of increasingly restrictive reproductive health policies. In this context, Establishing Vigilant Care puts the risks of digital health technologies at the forefront of considerations about where, how, and by whom maternity care is delivered to Black birthing people. Read the full report. https://lnkd.in/e4bngqm8