Vidant Health Receives Federal Grant to Create Program, Improve Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Rates | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    Greenville, N.C.     August 1, 2018 - Vidant Health has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to improve state maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. In Perinatal Region VI, which includes the 29 counties in eastern North Carolina, these rates are of growing concern.

    "In 2015, of all mothers who died from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes in the state, 26 percent lived in the east-and more than 50 percent of births in this region are unintended," said Kay Mitchell, MSN, CMN, a certified nurse midwife and the perinatal/neonatal outreach coordinator for the program. "The grant will support Vidant's mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, especially as it relates to supporting mothers, babies and their families."

    The program will assess the 18 hospitals in the region that have birthing facilities, using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Level of Care Assessment Tool. The assessment will reinforce the levels for maternal and neonatal care so that all mothers and babies will receive risk-appropriate care based on their medical diagnosis.

    "The levels of care identified through the program's assessment will ensure the hospitals in Perinatal Region VI provide the best and most appropriate care to moms and babies," said Mitchell.

    Additionally, the program will work to reduce unintended pregnancies and short-interval pregnancies by increasing availability of immediate postpartum insertion of Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC).

    The LARC program will help women decide when to become pregnant by providing them access to reproductive life planning options in the immediate postpartum period, prior to discharge from the hospital. Empowering women with access to these options will support healthy pregnancy intervals and improve the health of mothers and babies.

    The grant is administered by the NCDHHS Division of Public Health, Women's Health Branch. Vidant is one of two institutions in the state to receive funding for this work.

• Contact: Erica Mizelle
•     erica.mizelle@vidanthealth.com