PRESious Beginnings

Preventing Preterm Labor/Birth and Insuring Safe Prenatal Care

Premature birth, (birth that occurs before 37 weeks), and low birth weight (less than 2500 grams), are major problems nationwide.

Presbyterian's PRESious Beginnings, Prenatal Home Care Program is a perinatal case management and home healthcare program committed to healthy birthing outcomes. All case managers and home care nurses are highly skilled RNs. Our program goals are:

• To educate our clients
• Increase gestational age and birth weight of newborn infants
• Decrease the number of admits to NICU

The program targets the prevention of pre-term labor through early risk detection by focusing on:

• Early intervention for any signs or symptoms of complications
• Early identification of women with high risk pregnancies in the healthcare system
• Providing a continuum of care for the pregnant woman, beginning early in pregnancy and continuing through the post-partum period
• Frequent nursing contact either by telephone or on site
• Universal risk assessment screening for all PRESious Beginnings clients
• Meeting the educational needs of pregnant women
• Increasing pregnant women's awareness of signs and symptoms to report to the healthcare provider
• Increasing client satisfaction with care received during pregnancy
• Providing increased nurse support for the pregnant woman

The PRESious Beginnings program offers:

• Referrals to Prenatal Education Classes and Doula Services
• Referrals to community services for identified client needs.
• Presumptive Eligibility (PE) and Medicaid On Site Application Assistance (MOSAA)
• Perinatal Home Healthcare Services through Presbyterian Home Healthcare

Risk-Screening Process

RNs assess for medical, environmental, psychological, socio-economic, and life style risk factors that may impact pregnancies based upon the guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Moderate Risk:

• Notification of case management sent to MD/CNM. Presbyterian Pregnancy Planner reviewed with client Educational packet given to and reviewed with client. Client contacted every two months Client re-screen at 26-30 weeks gestation
• Telephonic follow-up in the early post partum period.

High Risk:

• Notification of case management sent to MD/CNM. Educational packet given to and reviewed with client.
• Client contacted on a monthly basis throughout pregnancy
• Client re-screened at 28 weeks gestation
• Telephonic follow-up in the early post partum period
• Skilled nursing home health care (in the Albuquerque area) as ordered by MD or CNM
• RN on call 24/7

If you are interested in this program, please talk to your Primary Care Physician about it.