New Online “Strong Start” Resources Available

New Online “Strong Start” Resources Available 

As part of the Strong Start initiative and in partnership with the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Text4Baby, and other advocacy and professional organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed a “toolkit” that provides action oriented resources for health care providers and community-based organizations to utilize in helping expectant mothers get safe, evidence-based care, and improve their newborn’s chances for good physical and developmental health.

The toolkit allows health care providers to access patient safety checklists, participate in quality improvement initiatives and share information with expectant mothers and families. Patient and community-based organizations can also share the online resources with patients and providers.

 

Background on Strong Start:

The Strong Start initiative was launched in February and aims at improving birth outcomes and reducing the risk of significant complications and long-term health problems for both expectant mothers and newborns.

 

Strong Start consists of two strategies:

1. Building on the work of the Partnership for Patients, test ways to speed the adoption of best practices and support providers in reducing early elective deliveries. CMS will partner with private organizations to increase current public awareness efforts and develop new ones.

2. Testing the effectiveness of three enhanced prenatal care approaches to reduce preterm births for women covered by Medicaid who are at risk for preterm births.

 

Find out more about the steps we can all take together to get expectant mothers and newborns off to a strong start.