Prisma Health Launches Doula Program for Black Mothers with Support from TD Charitable Foundation
Prisma Health, in collaboration with the TD Charitable Foundation, is proud to announce the development of an innovative program aimed at improving maternal and birth outcomes for Black mothers. This groundbreaking initiative will pair Black mothers with doulas, providing them with essential support throughout the birthing process. With a generous $125,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, Prisma Health is committed to addressing health disparities and fostering equitable healthcare for all.
The program, set to launch by early summer, draws inspiration from successful interventions implemented in North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It will be open to women receiving prenatal care from any Prisma Health provider, empowering them to apply and benefit from this unique initiative.
The invaluable role of doulas in offering non-medical support, including encouragement, advocacy, and comfort measures, has been extensively studied. Research suggests that such support can lead to shorter labors, fewer complications, increased success with breastfeeding, and an overall more positive birthing experience.
Dr. Kacey Eichelberger, Chair of the Prisma Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Upstate, highlights the responsibility and commitment of the healthcare team to ensure optimal health outcomes for the more than 12,000 women who choose to give birth in Prisma Health hospitals each year. Recognizing the disproportionate rate of adverse health outcomes experienced by Black women, Dr. Eichelberger emphasizes the program's potential to mitigate these risks by increasing access to trained birth partners like doulas.
The partnership between Prisma Health and the TD Charitable Foundation demonstrates a shared vision for equitable healthcare. TD Bank's South Carolina Market President, David Lominack, expresses pride in supporting Prisma Health's efforts to address maternal health disparities. He emphasizes the alignment between the organizations' commitment to research, technology, and innovative solutions to achieve equitable health outcomes for all.
Through the initial pilot program, Prisma Health aims to serve up to 100 patients across its footprint by providing grants to offset the cost of doula services in the prenatal, intrapartum, and/or postpartum settings. Each patient will have the freedom to choose her own doula, ensuring personalized support. The funds will be directly distributed from Prisma Health to the selected doulas and will be allocated proportionally across all birthing hospitals to ensure that Black women in all communities served by Prisma Health have the opportunity to participate.
As the program progresses, more details will be shared in the coming months. Prisma Health remains committed to improving the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience, access to affordable care, and conducting vital research while training the next generation of medical professionals.
The collaboration between Prisma Health and the TD Charitable Foundation not only marks an important step toward addressing healthcare disparities but also signifies a united effort to empower Black mothers, provide them with the support they deserve, and create lasting positive change in maternal and birth outcomes.
