Ascension St. Vincent’s in partnership with the Florida Department of Health have launched a Telehealth Maternity Care Program designed to connect new and expecting mothers in Northeast Florida to the resources they need before and after childbirth.
The program will complement in-person visits by identifying and overcoming barriers that prevent women from accessing prenatal care and post-pregnancy visits. Northeast Florida faces persistent challenges in maternal and infant health, including higher infant mortality rates compared to state and national averages, largely due to inadequate access to quality prenatal care and a lack of comprehensive health care services in certain areas.
“Connecting mothers and babies to quality care is central to our mission to care for the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Syed Jafri, chief clinical officer for Ascension Florida. “This program will advance maternal care for our communities, ensuring new families are healthy and thriving.”
“The Florida Department of Health is excited to team up with Ascension St. Vincent’s to help address maternal morbidity and improve birth outcomes in Florida,” said a Florida Department of Health spokesperson. “The program is designed to aid in providing telehealth services and care coordination to women statewide.”
By improving care before and after birth, St. Vincent’s aims to reduce the number of babies born prematurely and with low birth weights and reduce the rate of complications for mothers during and after childbirth.
The Telehealth Maternity Care Program will increase access to services, including:
Connection to wraparound services include:
Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside Family Birth Place, a Level 2 NICU, and St. Vincent’s Clay County, which is expanding to a Level 2 NICU, offer advanced care for babies born premature or critically ill.
To learn more about the telehealth program at Ascension St. Vincent’s go to jaxhealthbaby.com.
