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BOSTON, July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI) is pleased to announce that the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will be issuing $900,000 to implement CenteringPregnancy at four community health centers to combat Ohio's alarmingly high infant mortality rate.

"Centering is already having a positive impact on infant health at twelve practices across Ohio," says Tanya Munroe, Regional Director at CHI.  "We are very excited to expand the benefits to the four new health centers in the project.  Five Rivers Health Centers' Center for Women's Health in Dayton is off to a strong start offering both CenteringPregnancy prenatal care and CenteringParenting® well-woman, well-baby care to their new families."

"[CenteringPregnancy] complements initiatives in Ohio's new two-year state budget that target infant mortality by focusing resources where the need is greatest," according to an ODH statement.  Ohio's infant mortality rate is "among the worst in the nation," with a significant disparity between the black and white populations.

CHI will continue to work closely with Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Five Rivers Health Centers, Muskingum Valley Health Centers and Neighborhood Health Association to implement CenteringPregnancy over the next two years of the Demonstration Project.

More than 500,000 babies are born prematurely in the United States each year, an estimated lifetime cost to the healthcare system of $26 billion.  Studies have shown that CenteringPregnancy reduces the risk of premature birth by 33 percent compared to traditional care. Researchers concluded CenteringPregnancy care "resulted in equal or improved perinatal outcomes at no added cost."

In CenteringPregnancy, pregnant women with similar due dates join together in a group with their healthcare provider for prenatal care. They receive all the components of prenatal care, including health assessment, interactive learning and community building all in the group space. There is facilitated discussion of pregnancy, birth and newborn care as well as overall health, and many other topics. Studies in sample populations show Centering care increases breastfeeding rates and duration, decreases low birth weight and prematurity rates and increases patient and provider satisfaction.

Centering Healthcare Institute is a non-profit organization that supports clinical practice sites that offer the Centering model and advocates for the model nationally. For more information visit www.centeringhealthcare.org.

Media Contact:
media@centeringhealthcare.org
(857) 284-7570

SOURCE Centering Healthcare Institute