SSM Health focuses on Women’s Wellness at two local hospitals
ST. LOUIS – Social and racial disparities unfortunately exist, and patients “fall through the cracks and don’t receive adequate healthcare or resources; therefore, they do not achieve quality outcomes in their health journeys.
The Women’s Wellness Center at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis and SSM Health DePaul Hospital opened in November 2023 to reduce the gap related to disparities of care by improving patient access.
Built as a one-of-a-kind hub that provides compassionate care and resources to women at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of insurance status. The goal is to help women and their babies achieve the best outcome every step of the way through pregnancy and the different needs that arise at every stage, before, during, and after birth.
“In our community, especially for women of color, there’s a lot of education period needed around health care in general,” Tierra Dean, the clinical manager at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, said.
The center features specialized services, including a fit center for postpartum care.
“We provide full prenatal care to all women, regardless of their insurance status. we have doula services available. We also have a perinatal psychiatrist here for our perinatal mental health. we have resources as far as peer support. We have social workers available, but really to touch on, perinatal mental health is really big,” Dean said.
“Women in their pregnancy and shortly after really need to be watched and really need to be supported. These moms need to know that they’re great moms and that they can do it. And with the help of family support and friends and then the support of our team, we hope to achieve great outcomes.”
The SSM Health hub for Women’s Wellness includes:
Full-service obstetric, or prenatal, and GYN care
Women’s Behavioral Health (Perinatal Psychiatry and mood disorders)
Telehealth: Uses advanced technology to improve access to expert maternal care and providers to remote areas, areas that lack resources to provide adequate High-Risk prenatal care due to lack of providers. Our telehealth removes these barriers to these patients.
Doula presence and support
Postpartum clinic: FIT Center (Fourth Trimester Integrative Transition) – serving moms with chronic illnesses, such as HTN, Diabetes, and Obesity (reimbursed by Medicaid). The postpartum clinic address complications, which arises frequently in the African American community after obstetrical care is completed.
Peer support services: MOMS Line, MOMS Group, community activities
To learn more about the Women’s Wellness Center at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, click here or the OB Care Center at SSM Health DePaul Hospital, click here.
The SSM Health Medical Minute airs Wednesdays on STL 11 News at 7 p.m. and FOX 2 News at 9 p.m.
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