MBGH received a second round of funding to revise and implement the Community Action Plan for Reducing Unnecessary Early Elective Deliveries, which was funded under an earlier community health planning grant from National Business Coalition on Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the United Health Foundation.
Under the current grant, MBGH has coordinated a community effort; working with key stakeholders across the state including the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Hospital Association, Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative, March of Dimes and other community organizations along with CBS and NBC5. This initiatives intends to:
- Implement a community health awareness campaign in Chicago and targeted areas of Illinois on early elective deliveries (View consumer and employer materials on TCYH website)
- Work with state agencies to identify and define common metrics that can ensure consistency and accuracy in data reporting to national and state organizations
- Work with Illinois maternity hospitals in implementing hard-stop policies for unnecessary early elective deliveries
- Work with health plans to adopt benefit design and payment reform strategies that support quality maternity care as well as coordinate efforts to disseminate communications that educate members and physicians about the importance of full-term births
- Conduct educational webinars for employers on health issues related to non-medical early elective deliveries and what they can do to promote awareness and education of their covered population on the importance of full-term births
- Develop and disseminate a toolkit for employers and community groups
- Host a community summit to evaluate the impact of the initiative on elective early births in Illinois
The grant is highlighted in the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
View summary of MBGH initial planning grant
For additional information, contact Larry Boress at lboress@mbgh.org or Margaret Rehayem at mrehayem@mbgh.org
In the News
Leapfrog Announces an Update to reduction of Early Elective Delivery Rates
MBGH Press Release: Rate of Early Elective Deliveries Declines in Illinois
Early Elective Deliveries Rates Decline as Health Leaders Caution Against Unnecessary Deliveries
ACOG Updates Recommended Clinical Guidelines
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and United Health Foundation Award $700,000
in Community Health Grants to National Business Coalition on Health Members