Visana Health’s Post

Inadequate access to health services before, during, and after pregnancy is a key factor contributing to the U.S. maternal mortality rate being higher than that of other high-income countries. The recently published 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care by The Commonwealth Fund ranks Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island at the top based on 32 measures of healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma ranked the lowest. States with the lowest maternal mortality rates had: ➡️ More maternity care providers (Vermont #2, Connecticut #3) ➡️ Fewer women without prenatal care (Vermont #1, California #3, Connecticut #5) ➡️ Fewer women without postpartum checkups (Vermont #1) ➡️ Fewer uninsured women ages 19–64 (Vermont #3) If you are a p#rovider or part of a provider network looking to improve reproductive care with limited resources, please reach out to us! Our software ensures that your patients receive the #diagnostic workup they need based on their risk profile, reducing the time and physical touchpoints required with providers. #levyhealth #reproductivecare Silvia Hecher

On a surface level, I am sad about the election. But if you ask me how I truly feel, I am deeply and profoundly disturbed. I do not foresee abortion care staying at the state level, and I'm thinking about what a federal ban would entail. I've talked to soooo many voters who didn't understand what an ectopic pregnancy is. People who don't understand that pre-term labor does not just happen at 34 or 35 weeks (when we can just do an emergency c-section), but can happen at 19 or 20 or 22 weeks, before viability. I had someone tell me that we can see infant-fatal abnormalities like trisomy 13 and 18 upon conception (we can't "see" them. We test for them via blood-draw at 12 weeks). People don't even know when we start an ultrasound (dating is at 12 weeks), much less that we don't scan for physical anomalies until you're 5 months pregnant. One in four women will experience a pregnancy loss - and that does not even begin to go into the number of pregnancies that lead to a child not living past infancy - anencephaly, congenital HSV, the list is sooooo much longer than people realize. I highly, highly suggest you talk to your daughters, wives, girlfriends, whatever about family planning. Maybe you're one of the lucky people who have easy pregnancies, and if you are, go you!! But if you have gestational hypertension that leads to HELLP, a history of hemorrhage, or a history of cervical insufficiency, please please please reconsider. These are life-threatening conditions, and the possibility of needing a dilation and curretage (an abortion) is high. You (officially) can die. (Off the record though, depending on your state, you will die.) Be safe.

A new study highlights a concerning rise in US infant mortality rates, with sharp increases among infants born with congenital anomalies. Following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, researchers link this trend to new abortion restrictions, which may be forcing more high-risk pregnancies to term. This data aligns with similar outcomes observed in Texas after implementing an early-pregnancy abortion ban, underscoring the potential impacts of policy changes on maternal and infant health. As these findings continue to emerge, they prompt crucial discussions on the broader health implications of reproductive policies. 🏥📊 https://lnkd.in/e_-K6Pjq #InfantMortality #MaternalHealth #HealthPolicy #JAMAPediatrics #PublicHealth

The people need to be in power. This happened because laws are in place that uphold racism, misogyny, and classism. Imagine what would happen if we all rose up together and said: NO MORE. #vote #abortionishealthcare #healthcareisahumanright #healthpolicy #politicaldeterminantsofhealth

Certainly, the issue of women's reproductive health remains a significant concern globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Access to healthcare shouldn't depend on gender, but unfortunately, societal norms and systemic barriers often restrict women's access to essential services. Misinformation and limited decision-making power further exacerbate these challenges, leaving women vulnerable to health risks, disparities and misinformation. Read more to explore why homemade/DIY pregnancy tests are still prevalent: https://lnkd.in/gn4mSiup #FactCheck #Healthinformation #healthcare #misinformation #healthawareness #healthliteracy #THIP #THIPMedia #ReproductiveHealth #womenshealth

As we mark #BlackMaternalHealthWeek, it's imperative to confront a hard reality: Black women and birthing people in the United States face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates, a clear sign of systemic failures in our healthcare system. It's not just a statistic; it's a crisis that affects families, communities, and our nation as a whole. 📈 Did you know? Black women are three to four times more likely to experience maternal mortality than their white counterparts. This is not just a healthcare failure; it's a profound injustice. At VitalTech®, we refuse to stand by as this crisis continues. Our #RemotePatientMonitoring (#RPM) and #ChronicCareManagement (#CCM) solutions are at the forefront of transforming #maternalhealthcare. We're committed to innovation that ensures safety, equity, and the highest quality care for every mother and birthing person. 🤝 Join us in this critical mission. Together, we can bring about change and ensure a better, safer future for all mothers. 🌍 Let's not just raise awareness; let's take action. Because every mother counts. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #MaternalHealthCrisis #HealthEquity #VitalCare #VitalTechCares #InnovateForChange #HealthcareJustice #SaveMothers #EquitableHealthcare #FightForMothers #MaternalHealthAdvocacy #EndMaternalMortality #HealthcareReform #BlackWomenHealth #BlackHealthMatters #ProtectBlackMothers #MaternalRights #PregnancyAdvocacy #BlackLivesMatterInHealthcare #CommunityHealth #AdvocateForMothers #HealthcareEquality #RacialHealthDisparity #MomHealth

We are proud to share our latest blog, focusing on the critical issues of maternal health in the U.S., particularly affecting Black women and birthing people. In light of Black Maternal Health Week, we delve into the disproportionate impact on maternal and birth outcomes for Black communities. 🔍 Key Highlights: VitalTech's innovative Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM) solutions are making strides in providing equitable, high-quality care, significantly impacting maternal health positively. 💡 Did You Know? We are on a mission to transform maternal healthcare with our RPM and CCM solutions, ensuring every woman and birthing person receives the care they deserve. 📢 Let's amplify the conversation and drive change in maternal health. Read our full blog and learn how we're contributing to better maternal health outcomes: https://hubs.la/Q02sDM_D0 Your support and engagement can help spread the word and make a tangible difference in maternal healthcare. Let's work together to improve care for all women and birthing people! #HealthTech #Innovation #PatientCenteredCare #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #MaternalHealth #RPM #CCM #HealthcareInnovation #VitalTechCares #EquitableHealthcare #HealthEquity #PregnancyJourney #BlackMomsMatter #PregnacyAtHome #MaternalWellness #GestationalDiabetesAwareness #SafePregnancy #EmpowerBlackMothers #WomensHealth #BirthEquity #PrenatalCare #PostpartumHealth #MomLife #ExpectingMoms #MaternityCare #HealthyPregnancy #PerinatalHealth #BirthingWhileBlack #PregnancySupport #MaternalJustice

It’s Maternal Health Awareness Day, and women’s access to life-saving health information is under attack. Yesterday, the government shut down ReproductiveRights.gov, a critical resource that empowered millions of women with essential reproductive healthcare information. Today, it gets worse: the new administration has imposed an information blackout on major health agencies, silencing their ability to communicate with the public. The agencies impacted? The very ones tasked with protecting our health by providing factual, science-backed information. The agencies impacted include: -Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -National Institutes of Health (NIH) We launched Fourth Phase to provide products and educational guidance to all moms because they've been in the dark for too long. Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, recovering after a live or still birth, or facing the unimaginable decision of abortion, access to factual, timely health information is non-negotiable. That’s why our Healing After Birth blog and podcast exist—to deliver critical maternal health updates, from policy changes to urgent health advisories. Thankfully, we're not alone in this fight. In an incredible act of swift action, media powerhouse theSkimm has stepped up. Within 48 hours of the government’s censorship, they launched https://lnkd.in/ekEzaBy3, a lifeline that preserves the essential information stripped from the original site. Their platform offers guidance on: -Emergency care and birth control coverage -Access to abortion services and medication -Preventative health services and patient privacy At Fourth Phase, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with theSkimm in the belief that knowledge is power, and women deserve to know what choices are available to them. 💪 On this Maternal Health Awareness Day, we’re calling on YOU to help amplify these efforts. Share. Speak up. Refuse to let this silence go unchallenged. Women--and the partners who support them--deserve better. 📢 Stay informed. Stay empowered. Visit healingafterbirth.com for vital postpartum care resources. Learn more about theSkimm’s bold initiative at https://lnkd.in/ekEzaBy3. #MaternalHealth #ReproductiveRights #FourthPhase #HealingAfterBirth #WomensHealth

I was 33 when I had my first child, 36 when I had my second. When you hit 35 years old, at least in the US, you're considered "Advanced Maternal Age," which means greater risk of something bad happening (for you or the baby). It unlocks more testing, and it also means more nail biting as you come down to the finish line. We definitely had moments (during each pregnancy) when we declined tests that we knew weren't about a fatal issue. There are definitely things that you can say, "It won't change our mind about having this kid, so let's not test for it." Some things you just need to know because it may mean a short and/or horrible life for the child. From the story linked below: ~~~~~~~~~~ “These studies are providing a signal that people aren’t getting the care that they need, and because of that, there are spillover effects,” said Dr. Alison Gemmill, a demographer and perinatal epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University who led the research identifying the link between rising infant mortality and abortion restrictions in Texas. “It’s never going to be the case that everybody’s going to be able to overcome the barriers of these bans.” ~~~~~~~~~~ This is heartbreaking. Legal decisions led to political decisions that led to inadequate access to healthcare that led to unnecessary trauma. We don't know that the deaths were preventable (and it sounds like the majority were not). But the traumatizing of the parents, particularly the women forced to carry a doomed pregnancy -- that WAS avoidable. Whether we want to chalk this up to "unintended consequences" or "collateral damages," it sucks. There's no silver lining here. Access to healthcare should be A RIGHT, not a privilege based on where you live or how much money you have in the bank. We're all human, we all need healthcare, and our reproductive organs shouldn't be a barrier to medically appropriate care. I'm not linking to my research in this post, although rest assured the medical deserts-related work continues. Just assume I'm over here fuming, angry that there's anyone that thinks this is remotely okay. https://lnkd.in/eywxdni7

Over 350,000 babies were born at 37 weeks or sooner in 2023 (Edwards, 2024). Are abortion restrictions impacting prenatal care? There are a number of factors which contribute to preterm birth such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of stress, and certain types of infections. Women who reside in areas where there aren’t enough OBGYNs and abortion restrictions could be at higher risk for poor health outcomes. See article below for more information. #health #healthnews #healthblog #medical #medicalnews #pretermbirth #OBGYN #healthcare #prenatalcare #newblogpost.  https://lnkd.in/eCPS4jjZ