A community research partnership between UNMC, central Nebraska health providers and insurers hopes to cut the high rate of premature births through education and regular health care.
The UNMC College of Nursing and its community partners have received a $203,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska for a study that will focus on lowering the rate of premature births in the Lexington and Kearney areas where the rate of pre-term births can be up to 30 percent.
Mary Cramer, Ph.D., principal investigator of the study and professor in the UNMC College of Nursing, said the study is unique.
“The research was initiated from what the health care community said is important to them,” Dr. Cramer said. “This project has a potential to improve health care because it expands the outreach of the rural primary care provider. If this proves successful, insurers might be interested in spending money on low cost interventions like this.”
Pre-term birth, or the birth of a baby more than three weeks before the due date, is a rising concern in Nebraska. According to the March of Dimes, one in nine births in the state is pre-term. Babies born premature can have a variety of problems, including lung, heart and other problems. Hospitalization from premature births can cost from $60,000 to $250,000, Dr. Cramer said.
The study, which will include 100 pregnant women in the Lexington and Kearney areas, will use smartphones and a special text messaging program to send tailored information to pregnant women. Some study participants will receive periodic visits from a community health worker to reinforce prenatal education and care.
The grant involves 35 members of the Central Nebraska Prenatal Advisory Board. The board, which includes Dr. Cramer, is co-chaired by Stephen Lazoritz, M.D., Arbor Health Plan network medical director, and Ken Shaffer, M.D., UniNet medical director in Kearney.
Dr. Cramer said members include nearly every medical practice in Kearney and Lexington, the Two Rivers Health Department, and three hospitals — Good Samaritan in Kearney, Lexington Regional Health Center and Cozad Community Hospital.
“Our partners pulled right up to the table,” Dr. Cramer said. “As a team we will review data and it will help us problem solve. There’s a real benefit to doing research this way.”
I would hope this project Collaborates with Dr. Ann Anderson-Berry MD, work on setting up a Collaborative within Nebraska. This project was presented to the Legislator for initial funding, many organization like the March of Dimes and AWHONN have multiple educational programs for this population and it is readily available, and the Collaborative needs to be started again in Nebraska. I would hope this research project is a part of the Collaborative.
Suzanne Choiniere MSN, RNC-OB