Prisma Health partners with March of Dimes to offer NICU Family Support® program to its patients
August 13, 2024
NICU Family Support Program Coordinator to administer program at Prisma Health Midlands hospitals
Prisma Health is proud to announce a new partnership with March of Dimes to enhance support for families with infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Through this collaboration, Prisma Health Midlands hospitals will now offer the March of Dimes NICU Family Support® program, ensuring families receive the best possible care, education, and support during their NICU stay.
To support NICU families, Prisma Health recently added a NICU Family Support Program Coordinator to their Midlands facilities. This specially trained coordinator will guide families through the complexities of having a baby in the NICU, advocating for them and providing essential education and social support.
The March of Dimes NICU Family Support program, which comes at no cost to families, will offer:
- family education;
- staff training on family-centered care;
- an improved patient experience.
“Many of our families are not prepared to have a baby that requires extended NICU care in the hospital,” said Beth Green, Prisma Health Richland NICU nurse manager. “The families may be going through a range of emotions and need a lot of support. Our NICU Family Support Program Coordinator will now have these valuable resources to assist our families and staff. We are thankful to the March of Dimes for their partnership to provide the NICU Family Support program to our families.”
Kimberly Edwards, March of Dimes Director of NICU Family Support, added, “We understand better than anyone that having a baby in the NICU can be stressful for families. Our organization is focused on the best outcomes for moms and babies, and this is another way we can support families by providing the NICU Family Support® program. We are excited to add Prisma Health hospitals to those who offer this valuable resource.”
In the 2023 March of Dimes Report Card, South Carolina’s preterm birth rate improved to 11.6% in 2022, down from the previous year. Despite this improvement, the state still received an F grade. The report highlighted that the preterm birth rate for Black women in South Carolina is 1.5 times higher than the rate for all other babies.
Prisma Health is committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes through initiatives and collaborations with organizations like March of Dimes. This partnership is a significant step towards better supporting NICU families and helping to continue to address preterm birth rates in our state.
About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest health care organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,309 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,827 licensed beds, 305 practice sites, and more than 5,400 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Connect with Prisma Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter/X. Visit www.PrismaHealth.org.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Since 1938, we’ve built a successful legacy to support every pregnant person and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
