UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System’s (MVHS) CenteringPregnancy program has received a $150,000 Member and Community Health Improvement (MACHI) grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to help improve maternal health and health equity.

MVHS says it offers the area’s only licensed CenteringPregnancy program, which brings eight to 10 women, all due at the same time, together for their care. Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, but each visit is between 90 minutes and two hours long. Patients engage in their own care by taking their own weight and blood pressure and recording their own health data. Each patient receives private time with the provider for a “belly check.”

“Since the beginning of the MVHS CenteringPregnancy program, we have held 36 groups, providing prenatal care to more than 240 moms,” Jaime Kierpiec, RN, Maternal Child Services Nurse Education, said in a release. “It is really gratifying to see the bonds these moms and families make during their time together.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program held a CenteringPregnancy reunion for all women that attended the program along with their partner and infant. “As I walked around the room, I learned that many of the women remained friends and get their children together,” Kierpiec said.

Research has shown CenteringPregnancy to nearly eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth. All women, but especially African-American women, who are at higher risk in the U.S., experience lower risk of preterm birth when enrolled in CenteringPregnancy rather than traditional care. Oneida County’s preterm birth rate is substantially higher than the state’s rate, making the program particularly important, MVHS officials said.

“Maternal health and health equity is at the forefront of our community investment strategy,” Excellus BCBS Regional President Eve Van de Wal said. “By collaborating with community partners like MVHS, we can help close gaps in care and create a positive impact on maternal health in our community. We are proud to provide funding for the CenteringPregnancy program that offers peer support and vital access to care, which helps improve outcomes and promotes safe pregnancies and childbirth for those who often face health disparities.”

MVHS includes St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, and Senior Network Health. MVHS, which serves Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties and employs 4,200 people, is building the Wynn Hospital. The 672,000-square-foot, 373-bed hospital is set to open this October.