“With the NFMMC and CHCB collaboration, we are hoping to make a difference in the lives of women who need healthcare to change its ongoing state of bias. Our goals are many but shifting control to the patient and delivering safe care is paramount,” said Dr. Hannah Bailey, OBGYN physician at NFMMC.
Effective early August, NFMMC obstetricians will provide services at CHCN every other Tuesday for a four-hour session that would alternate from 8 a.m. to Noon, or from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Based on initial projections, it is estimated 10 CHCN patients would be seen during each four-hour session.) Under this arrangement, a pregnant woman would receive pre-natal care at CHCN for approximately 24-26 weeks before being transferred to NFMMC for the remainder of the pregnancy to enable additional fetal monitoring and ultrasound services.
“We have uncovered thru the work of our NF Healthcare Disparities Task Force the significant disparities among pregnant African American women with lower birth weights, higher rate pre-term births, and lower rates of postpartum visits, as compared to white women,” said Joseph A. Ruffolo, President & CEO, NFMMC. “Our joint partnership with CHCB will address
this disparity head on, by providing high quality maternal fetal care in those neighborhoods.”
“Because of racial disparities in maternal health, statistics show that African American women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes,” said LaVonne Ansari, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. “By partnering with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center’s obstetrics, we are directly addressing these disparities by removing the obstacle of access to our patients.”
“It is important that all residents in the City of Niagara Falls who are in need of prenatal care and services are able to have access to this care. Through this partnership these services will now be offered at CHCN in collaboration with NFMMC for those who may otherwise risk going without,” said City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino. “We appreciate the collaborative effort of NFMMC and CHCB to bring the opportunity for important healthcare to our community.”
About CHCB, Inc.
The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., under the leadership of Dr. LaVonne Ansari, Chief Executive Officer, is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operating four patient centers across Western New York in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lockport, and Niagara Falls. As a National Health Services Corps site, CHCB, Inc. is committed to serving all patients, regardless of ability to pay; offering discounted fees for patients who qualify; and not denying services based on a patient’s race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation. CHCB, Inc. also accepts insurance including Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Focused on Patient Centered Medical Care. The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. is also an LGBTQIF friendly organization. www.chcb.net
About Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is devoted to addressing individual patient needs and demands by offering patient-centered, compassionate medical care in a warm and caring environment. NFMMC is a full-service, 171-bed regional medical center with extensive inpatient and outpatient services including The Heart Center of Niagara, Niagara Wellness Connection Center, Wound Center of Niagara, Niagara Metabolic & Bariatric Services, The OB/GYN Center and UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. NFMMC also offers a comprehensive range of surgical services. www.nfmmc.org
CONTACT:
Karla Thomas Director of Marketing Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc.
Phone: (716) 400-1812 Email: [email protected] Address: 34 Benwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14214
CONTACT:
Andrea Gray Director, Special Events & Donor Relations Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
621 10th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14302 716-278-4605 (Office) 716-344-8144 (Cell) www.nfmmc.org
