Communities in and around Des Moines, Iowa, are facing a mental health crisis in maternal care. In response, Primary Health Care (PHC) is improving care for prenatal and postpartum patients. The health center has seen a 37% increase in the number of prenatal patients receiving depression treatment.
With a Quality Improvement Fund – Maternal Health award from HRSA, PHC launched an innovative care model that integrates mental health services into routine maternal health care. The maternal health care team offers early screening and risk assessment to identify at-risk patients and ensure they receive the care they need. PHC works to bridge the divide between mental health and maternal health, providing a more comprehensive and personalized approach.
To do this, PHC hired a full-time Behavioral Health Specialist to support maternal health patients. Health center staff screen patients for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders at maternal health visits. This helps to identify patients who may be at-risk, allowing for timely interventions.
PHC also hired four bilingual Community Health Workers (CHWs) — one for each of its maternal health clinics. The CHWs are fluent in Spanish, which is the primary language of most patients. They help to ensure patients have access to care throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
"The new screening protocols have been highly effective in identifying behavioral health risks early and connecting patients with the support they need," said Tia Wolett, Women's Health Program Manager.
By growing its care team and integrating mental health with maternal care, PHC is reshaping maternal health care in central Iowa. This serves as a model that other health centers can use in communities facing similar challenges.
PHC serves about 40,000 patients a year. Many of these patients face financial challenges. More than 30% are uninsured, and about 40% rely on Medicaid or CHIP. In addition to these financial challenges, many lack access to comprehensive mental health services, especially in underserved communities.