Allegheny Health Network Launches CenteringPregnancy® at West Penn Hospital
Group-Based Prenatal Appointment Model Proven to Decrease Rates of Preterm and Low Weight Babies, Foster Stronger Emotional Support and Increase Attendance Among Birthing Patients
PITTSBURGH –Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Women’s Institute and Highmark Health’s Equitable Health Institute are pleased to announce the launch of CenteringPregnancy®, a nationally-recognized model of group prenatal care shown to improve a wide range of birth outcomes, including lowering the risk of preterm births, reducing low birth weights and increasing breastfeeding rates.
The program will be based at AHN West Penn, home to the network’s busiest labor and delivery program. Network and hospital leadership joined AHN physicians and the CenteringPregnancy® team to celebrate the launch on Friday, May 12.
Patients will begin group visits in June at the newly renovated space in the Mellon Pavilion at AHN West Penn Hospital (4815 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224). The space was specifically designed to best accommodate group prenatal appointments.
The CenteringPregnancy® model brings together between eight and 12 patients with similar due dates, as well as their partners, support people, and health care team. They meet for 10 prenatal visits following the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) practice guidelines, but each visit is 90 minutes to two hours long — giving patients significantly more time with their provider team when compared to individual visits.
The model has shown to be particularly successful in improving outcomes among Black women and babies, who have higher rates of pregnancy- and birth-related complications than white populations. CenteringPregnancy’s group-care model helps to address those long-standing disparities.
"Group prenatal care is associated with lower rates of preterm birth and low-birthweight babies as well as improved reports of mental health and stronger patient engagement,” said Grace Ferguson, MD, OB-GYN at AHN Women’s Institute and a lead physician with CenteringPregnancy®<