In opening the Temple Women & Families Campus, our goal is to provide the highest-quality care to the women in our communities, and to make a difference in the maternal health outcomes of a city where the rate of pregnancy-related deaths is 15% higher than the national average. That’s why we’re committed to offering programs and services that will meet the needs of our patients, and that will address—and help overcome—the barriers our patients face.
In developing these programs, our clinicians and Temple Health staff have worked side-by-side with community members and local organizations to understand what kinds of services will make the most impact, and how to implement them so they can be accessible to our patients. See the list below to find out some of what we’ll be offering at the Women & Families Campus, and click here to learn more about the campus’ mission:
Perinatal Community Health Worker (pCHW) Program: This innovative program will pair at-risk pregnant patients with a trained maternal health advocate who will work with them from their very first appointment until one year post-partum. pCHWs will help their patients navigate the healthcare system, proactively address any missed appointments, and connect patients with resources designed to address social determinants of health or nonmedical factors that can influence health outcomes.
Maternal Health Equity Dashboard: This dashboard will track maternal health trends, rates, and key factors driving inequities across different groups to increase patient safety and signal the need for risk-reducing interventions.
Doula Program: This program will offer patients additional assistance with prenatal education, labor and delivery, postpartum wellness, breastfeeding, and emotional support. It will also make training and career pathways for doula positions available to members of the community.
Patient-First Spaces and Trauma-Informed Communications: The patient spaces at the Women & Families Campus—which have research-informed features like adjustable lighting, soothing colors, and movable furniture—have been designed to enhance the patient experience and cultivate trust. Our trauma-informed approaches to patient interactions will integrate cultural sensitivity into care practices, with the goal of making our patients feel safe and improving health outcomes.