The outside of the John Peter Smith Hospital Campus in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Christopher Torres
ctorres@star-telegram.com
When Annahgrace Lee was pregnant, she went to the doctor diligently once a month.
But her doctor’s appointments looked a little different than most. Instead of a one-on-one appointment, Lee went to the doctor with six other women who were also pregnant.
Lee, 26, participated in the Centering Pregnancy program at JPS Health Network, an initiative that replaces one-on-one doctors’ appointments with group appointments that typically last at least an hour. During the appointments, attendees cover a different topic each month, and get the opportunity to ask questions and have a conversation with their doctor and each other. Lee said the program left her better equipped for both pregnancy and motherhood.
“Because of the education that I had, I just felt more confident in myself,” Lee said.
JPS is one of hundreds of providers throughout the U.S. who have adopted the Centering approach as a growing body of research has found that the Centering model improves health outcomes for both parents and their children.
Learning to be a mom
During Lee’s first pregnancy six years ago, she received traditional prenatal care. She picked a doctor at random, and said she felt like just another patient in their day.
Lee said she didn’t know how to breastfeed with her first child, and that she stopped breastfeeding after two weeks because she felt so confused.
“I did not have any education going into that pregnancy,” she said. “I felt so embarrassed and lost.”
For Lee, the Centering program was a welcome reprieve after a difficult start to her pregnancy, she said. Initially, Lee applied for Medicaid health insurance for pregnant mothers, but was denied coverage. She was able to enroll in a program for care at JPS, and was also directed to the Centering program.
The appointments start with taking each patient’s vital signs and listening to the baby’s heartbeat, said Dr. Montserrat Abadie-Sole, a JPS doctor who participates in the Centering program. During that time, each patient will get an opportunity to privately ask their doctor any questions or share any concerns that they don’t want to discuss with the larger group. Then, the group will convene for a discussion about a topic related to pregnancy or parenthood.
Lee learned about lactation, C sections, domestic violence, birth control and much more throughout her time in the Centering program.
Now, Lee is a more confident mother to her son Leonardo, who was born Christmas morning. Because of the Centering program, she said, she felt less scared of the possibility of a C-section and more equipped to breastfeed.
“I feel prepared,” she said.
The Centering model
The Centering model was started about 30 years ago by a nurse-midwife who wanted to provide better prenatal care and reduce provider burnout. Today, the model has expanded to three programs: Centering Pregnancy, the model used by JPS; Centering Parenting, designed for families caring for newborns through the age of two; and Centering Healthcare, which cares for patients with a range of different diseases and conditions.
The approach focuses on providing patients with a supportive environment where they feel empowered to ask questions of their doctors that they might be too intimidated to ask during a one-on-one appointment.
“Through this group care, they’re more confident in asking questions and engaging in their health care experience,” said Qiana Cressman, interim CEO of the Centering Healthcare Institute.
Research has found the Centering Pregnancy model to be effective at improving health outcomes. More than 200 research studies have examined the Centering approach to health care. One study found that Centering can help to close the gap in preterm birth rates between Black and white women. Another study found that there was a 33% reduction in the risk of preterm births in patients participating in the Centering program compared to those who received traditional prenatal care. The risk reduction was even greater for Black women, with Centering contributing to 41% reduction in preterm birth.
By reducing the risk of preterm births, the Centering model also reduces health care costs, Cressman said.
Today, JPS is one of more than 500 sites nationwide that uses the Centering program, Cressman said.
The model doesn’t just benefit patients. For physicians and other health care providers, the Centering Pregnancy approach allows them for more time to connect with their patients. Abadie-Sole said the Centering program allowed her to spend more time with patients than she would during a traditional doctor’s appointment.
“If I’m behind in clinic, then the education I’ll be able to give you is 5-10 minutes of this summary, and it’s mostly me talking at you, not you and I having a conversation,” Abadie-Sole said.
The program also makes appointments more fun, she said.
“When I have a centering week, I’m happier because…I’m going to connect in a different way with this group of women,” she said.
More information
To learn more about Centering Pregnancy at JPS, visit JPS Health Network’s Health Center for Women at 1201 S. Main Street or call 817-702-6500.
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Ciara McCarthy covers health and wellness as part of the Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab. She came to Fort Worth after three years in Victoria, Texas, where she worked at the Victoria Advocate. Ciara is focused on equipping people and communities with information they need to make decisions about their lives and well-being. Please reach out with your questions about public health or the health care system. Email cmccarthy@star-telegram.com or call or text 817-203-4391.