Objective: To improve member satisfaction with their prenatal experience; to improve the quality and consistency of prenatal education; and to decrease preventable utilization of outpatient services in the first two weeks following delivery.
Setting: Two primary care sites from a staff-model HMO.
Subjects: Expectant members of the HMO.
Design: Two medical centers were chosen to participate. The intervention was the design and implementation of a prenatal education program. The program integrates 4 educational group visits, patient education materials and videos into the prenatal clinical care pathway. The content includes information on pregnancy, labor, delivery and the 1st two weeks of parenthood. Cross sectional member telephone surveys were conducted before and after program implementation.
Measures: Member perception of satisfaction with prenatal education received overall and specifically on topics of labor, breastfeeding, parenting and newborn care. Member recall of number of phone calls and visits to Pediatrics and OB/GYN.
Results: 237 expectant members completed the pre-intervention survey and 268 completed the post-implementation survey. Significant improvements (p> 0.05) were reported for members' preparation for labor and receiving enough information on baby care. Significant decreases (p> 0.05) in phone calls and visits to the Pediatric clinic in the 1st two weeks after delivery, and, specifically, phone calls for questions regarding breastfeeding and illness and visits to Pediatrics for questions regarding illness.
Conclusions: The program makes significant contributions to improving quality and service by improving member knowledge and self-confidence as well ass improving access by decreasing demand for Pediatric phone calls and visits in the 1st two weeks of life.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. list the main components of the Healthy beginnings program 2. describe the improvements in patients' perinatal experience 3. describe the ways the program improves access to care
Keywords: Prenatal Care, Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Regional Health Education, The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Northern California Region
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.