TriHealth OB-GYN Center at Good Samaritan Hospital

Project: To increase early, regular access to high-quality prenatal care to improve birth outcomes and address social barriers to health through community partnerships

Investment: $3,686,290 to fund three years

Grantee: Good Samaritan Foundation, on behalf of the OB-GYN Center at Good Samaritan Hospital (formerly named the Faculty Medical Center)

Background: In 2013, bi3 provided a $3.2 million grant to fund the development of a unique mom-centered approach to tackle Hamilton County’s high infant mortality rates. The pilot program proved effective in delivering strong outcomes in the Avondale neighborhood. The community is now improving faster than any other urban neighborhood, and community health leaders credit the program with a county-wide infant mortality rate decline of 15 percent.

The key was the collaboration between competing healthcare providers, community-based organizations and Avondale residents. Community leaders, families and physicians were involved early in program development. In addition, previously-siloed services were integrated into a single bundle of care to help moms overcome every barrier that may prevent a healthy, full-term delivery.

Project Description: The Woman Centered Medical Home project seeks to fundamentally transform the care experience and outcomes for women served at TriHealth’s OB-GYN Center at Good Samaritan Hospital, the region’s largest prenatal care provider for women who disproportionately suffer from poor birth and health outcomes. The model expands existing evidence-based best practices and programs, including the model piloted in the Avondale neighborhood. The center will adopt a patient-centered, team-based approach that connects each patient with a consistent care team and community resources — such as home visits with a community health worker to help parents learn about their child’s health and development, access to legal aid services to address a wide range of social and economic challenges facing families, and on-site enrollment in a supplemental nutrition program.

The goal is to provide responsive, high-quality care, increase early access to prenatal care, improve birth outcomes, provide evidence-based training for care teams and exemplary medical resident education, and address social barriers to health through community partnerships. This project will provide services to approximately 6,700 people over the next three years.

Partners: Cradle Cincinnati; Every Child Succeeds; Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati; Women, Infants, and Children; Good Samaritan Free Health Center

Other Funders: Catholic Health Initiatives Mission and Ministry Fund and TriHealth