Beacon aims to improve infant, maternal health with CareSource grant

As part of an effort to improve the maternal and infant health outcomes in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Beacon Health System has been awarded $100,000 from the nonprofit managed care entity CareSource. The grant from the CareSource Foundation will support a multi-disciplinary approach to provide targeted and personalized care coordination services for under-resourced, high-risk mothers and their babies.

The Beacon Community Impact team, and its Early Childhood Services division, will lead the effort to support mothers who are at risk for developing or have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, helping them manage hypertension while promoting a healthy pregnancy. Two new, highly trained Community Health Workers will also be added to help address the underlying social determinants of health that contribute to health disparities.

Beacon will provide take-home remote patient monitoring devices for blood pressure monitoring. These devices will enable mothers to easily share the data with their healthcare providers. Care coordination services, including monitoring vital signs, communicating with healthcare providers and providing educational materials, will be offered to mothers to ensure comprehensive support throughout their pregnancy.

“Managing severe hypertension effectively throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period is critical to the health and well-being of both moms and babies,” said Jen Tonkovich, Director of Women and Children’s Services, Beacon Health System. “Many of the women we serve have transportation and childcare issues, making it difficult for them to receive prenatal care and proper management when complications such as hypertension arise.”

The grant will allow the care coordination and monitoring devices to be provided at no charge to patients. Patients will also have access to resources at Beacon’s BABE Store, which offers a variety of resources for mothers and infants, including safe sleep supplies and diapers.

The new initiative will be introduced in two phases: first to high-risk mothers in St. Joseph County, and then it will expand to Elkhart County. Beacon will serve high-risk pregnant mothers at Memorial Hospital and Elkhart General Hospital, as well as at Beacon Medical Group practices that serve many high-risk pregnant mothers, including E. Blair Warner in South Bend and Elkhart OBGYN in Elkhart.

"At CareSource, our commitment to transforming healthcare extends beyond the confines of traditional insurance. Partnering with Beacon Health is a pivotal step within our comprehensive strategy to improve infant and maternal health,” said Steve Smitherman, President, CareSource. “We recognize that improving the well-being of mothers has positive effects across families and communities, and that by investing in maternal health now, we are laying the foundation for a stronger future in Michiana."

Improving maternal and infant health outcomes can, in turn, help reduce health care costs. But addressing maternal and infant health is not straightforward with one solution.

“It takes a combination of strategic and collaborative efforts in different areas to impact change to ultimately benefit hundreds of moms, babies, and families in our community,” said Susan King, President, Beacon Health Foundation. “That is why Beacon, together with CareSource and other community partners, can help improve preventable maternal health risks, reduce preterm births, and mobilize our community to create lasting change so families can get the best possible start.”

The opportunities offered by the CareSource grant allows Beacon to further to collaborate with community-based partners to address this issue. Beacon remains deeply committed to reducing infant mortality rates in the region and recognizes that more needs to be done.

“The CareSource Foundation grant enables the provision of essential resources and expertise for the successful implementation of our maternal health initiative. Our aim is to ensure the initiative's cultural sensitivity and responsiveness to community needs while fostering trust and rapport,” said Kimberly Green Reeves, Executive Director, Beacon Community Impact. “Leveraging Beacon’s robust community partnerships will play a pivotal role in guaranteeing moms and infants access to the necessary resources for their well-being, ultimately enhancing their overall health.”

Since 2006, the CareSource Foundation has awarded more than $28.5 million to organizations across the country that are working to eliminate poverty, provide much-needed services to low-and moderate-income families, and develop innovative approaches to address critical health issues. For more information, visit CareSourceFoundation.com

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