Janet M. Caldwell: 615.500.0632 or jcaldwell@mmc.edu
Cynthia Yeldell: 615.327.6986 or 615.280.0319 or cyeldell@mmc.edu
March 23, 2011
MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE RECEIVES $20k GRANT TO TARGET SPANISH-SPEAKING CLIENTS IN PRENATAL CARE PROGRAM
(Nashville, Tenn.) – (March 23, 2011) – The Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes is awarding a $20,000 grant to Meharry Medical College to target Spanish-speaking clients.
The funds will be used to provide services to nearly 300 Spanish-speaking clients and fund a Spanish-speaking medical assistant/group facilitator in Meharry’s CenteringPregnancy® program.
CenteringPregnancy® is a new model of prenatal care designed to help reduce infant mortality. CenteringPregnancy® at Meharry is one of several group care sites in Nashville. Pregnant women enrolled in the program receive their prenatal care in groups of 8-12 women whose due dates are within four weeks of each other. Groups meet each month or twice monthly with their health care provider, which allows extra time for educating pregnant women regarding pregnancy changes, nutrition and breastfeeding. Groups foster support and bonding among the women.
Each group session, which lasts two hours, begins with a private physical assessment of each woman. After some time for snacks and socializing, the group discusses topics important to the participants. Women have opportunities to discuss their experiences and challenges, and work together with their provider to find solutions.
CenteringPregnancy® was developed in 1993 by Sharon Schindler Rising, CNM, MSN, and is now used by sites all over the country. Participating in CenteringPregnancy® group care allows most patients ten times more interaction time with their provider.
About Meharry Medical College: Meharry Medical College founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church affiliated institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. Visit www.mmc.edu to learn more.