Clinic’s New Prenatal Care Services Ensure Healthy Births

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach at Health Partnership Clinic

Prenatal Care Services Update

Since beginning prenatal care services in November 2024, Health Partnership Clinic has seen more than 80 mothers-to-be. During that time frame, 36 babies have been born, all healthy! Research shows that prenatal care and education programs can be successful in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, our Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner says that prenatal care can reduce the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and even maternal and infant death. At the clinic, mothers are provided with information not only regarding the pregnancy but also for postpartum care such as breastfeeding.

Prenatal care ensures mom and baby are not only healthy during pregnancy but also for delivery. Bottomline, the goal is to prevent health problems early and ensure healthy outcomes for both the mother and baby.

Health Partnership has partnered with Kansas City Women’s Clinic, an HCA Midwest Health practice, and Overland Park Regional Medical Center to provide care along with our own in-house women’s health nurse practitioner. The partnership leverages the expertise of community OB/GYNs, OB residents and our nurse practitioner.

Prenatal Care Services For Communities of Color

According to Kelly D. Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Health Officer and pediatrician, the program was started to meet the growing need for prenatal services among communities of color. Dr. Kreisler says that mortality rates for Hispanic babies are roughly double the rate of white infants, and Black babies are nearly three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. The disparity is linked to systemic causes related to the social drivers of health. As a community health center, Health Partnership is uniquely poised to support moms to be, and after birth, take care of both mom and baby at one of our facilities.

The clinic followed Maranda Gordon through her pregnancy care at the clinic and shared it on our Facebook feed. We are happy to announce that Maranda, Miguel, her partner, and big sister Kinsley, welcomed Malina Jo Ramirez on August 11, a healthy baby girl weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches long! Malina was seen at HPC for her initial follow up visit with Jessica Nichols, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner, and everything was great!

To learn more about our prenatal services, visit hpcks.org/prenatal-services.