Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Improving Maternity Management: Reducing Premature Deliveries and Addressing Postpartum Depression

Manasquan, N.J., USA, June 1, 2006 – One in every eight babies born in the United States is premature, according to recent research from the March of Dimes, and in their first year of life, these newborns cost employers nearly 15 times more than full-term babies. In addition, about 10 percent of new mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD), according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The associated feelings, such as sadness, anxiety and restlessness, can be so strong that they interfere with daily tasks and contribute to higher lifetime medical expenditure.

Maternity disease management programs can have a significant impact on containing healthcare costs and improving outcomes by reducing the number of premature deliveries and addressing PPD. In Maternity Disease Management: Raising Expectations and Improving Outcomes, selected industry experts outline strategies for handling the issue. For more information, please visit the HIN bookstore.

"Maternity issues are a tremendous source of healthcare costs," says Melanie Matthews, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN). "Pregnancy is a significant stage in people's lives, and improved disease management programs could elevate outcomes for both standard deliveries and high-risk cases."

The 54-page report, produced by HIN, centers around three case studies of maternity disease management programs that identify and monitor at-risk mothers, target key cost drivers and improve clinical outcomes for this population. Christy L. Beaudin, PhD, LCSW, CPHQ, corporate director of quality improvement at PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Joseph Stankaitis, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at Monroe Plan for Medical Care, and Thomas M. Smith, RN, MA, director, medical care management at Health Management Corporations, describe the efforts of their respective organizations, including:

• Early identification of high-risk pregnancies;
• Patient education initiatives;
• Supplanting prenatal services with preconception and parenting programs;
• Addressing the unique challenges facing the Medicaid population;
• Aligning internal staff systems with community-based outreach programs; and
• Calculating and analyzing return on investment.

According to Dr. Beaudin, postpartum blues, which are characterized by mood swings, irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances, affect anywhere between 50 percent and 80 percent of new mothers and are relatively short-lived. On the other hand, PPD affects about 10 percent of mothers, is identified by dysphoria, severe fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness and can linger longer if not treated. Treating PPD is complicated, as breast-feeding necessitates co-monitoring of both mother and child with the use of pharmaceuticals, she added. Consequently, prevention has become a primary strategy at PacifiCare, increasing education and general awareness.

Maternity Disease Management: Raising Expectations and Improving Outcomes, the latest in HIN’s Disease Management Dimensions series, also contains eight pages of answers to questions on timetables, engaging physicians, contacting high-risk populations and utilizing prenatal and birth consumer toolkits, as well as 12 pages of additional resources.

For more information, please visit the HIN bookstore.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network – HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

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Contact: Patricia Donovan