It’s no secret that Texas is facing a women’s health crisis. According to a study released by the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, the state has an alarmingly high maternal mortality rate. To tackle this crisis— and thanks to the generous support of St. David’s Foundation—People’s Community Clinic created Fourth Trimester Care Coordination for high risk mothers.
The “fourth trimester” is the period of time after a woman gives birth, when maternal healthcare is critical for women experiencing the greatest health disparities, especially women of color.
Relationship building is the foundation of the Fourth Trimester Care Coordination program, with full-time Care Coordinator, Maricela Garcia, constantly touching base with patients. Garcia, a trained medical assistant, accompanies her patients to most of their prenatal visits and during the fourth trimester to make sure that they and their newborns continue to engage with healthcare services after delivery. She also provides them with general support and gives specialized prenatal health education in a one-on-one setting.
“I stay with women at a very challenging time in their life—when they have a new baby,” said Garcia. “Anything they need, I’m right there with them.”
Whether it is helping navigate insurance incentives such as car seats and breast pumps, or connecting patients to resources in the community, the Care Coordinator is there every step of the way. The benefits of this kind of attention are tangible. Patients enrolled in the program are less likely to experience an adverse birth outcome or face scary health challenges at a vulnerable time in their lives.
Focus on the Fourth recruits patients who are most likely to suffer from fourth trimester complications. They are: women with mental health disorders, gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, advanced maternal age, and substance abuse during pregnancy, history of preterm delivery, and pregnant teenagers.
People’s is grateful for St. David’s Foundation and their commitment to mothers and children in Austin.