Pregnancy is not an illness. Rather, it is the ultimate expression of wellness — creating and carrying new life to fruition. Yet prenatal care in the United States has evolved into a complex regimen of 12 to 14 appointments over the course of a 40-week period, often only to confirm that the expectant mother and her fetus are healthy.
How Mayo Clinic Is Simplifying Prenatal Care for Low-Risk Patients
Pregnancy shouldn’t be treated as an illness.
June 19, 2017
Summary.
Prenatal care in the U.S. has become an involved schedule of appointments. By adhering to this regimen, women with low-risk pregnancies pay a price by taking time off work and incurring lost wages or personal days and childcare costs for what are often unnecessary check-ups. Health care organizations also incur costs in the form of the unnecessary utilization of costly medical resources, such as obstetric providers, clinic time, and nursing support. To address this problem, a group at Mayo Clinic developed a new model, that relies on technology, where women with low-risk pregnancies still receive all the recommended laboratory tests, ultrasounds, immunizations, and patient education while reducing the associated costs and time commitment.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
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