DETROIT, May 15, 2014 -- Detroit's leading health systems, the city of Detroit, Wayne State University and other key partners today launched the Make Your Date campaign, a new initiative designed to help expectant mothers in Detroit deliver healthy full-term babies.
"Carrying her baby to full term is the most important thing a mother can do for the development of her child," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "The Make Your Date program is designed to make sure every baby born in Detroit is given a chance at a healthy start in life."
In Detroit, 18 percent of babies are born prematurely, nearly six percent higher than the state average. Studies show that low birth weight accounts for almost 50 percent of the city's infant mortality rate of 14/1000, which is twice the national average.
The Make Your Date campaign will provide a consistent approach among local health care providers in how they deliver support and care to expectant mothers. The program builds on existing programs, such as the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB) of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Institutes of Health at Wayne State University (WSU) and the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), the Women & Infants Network (WIN) led by Henry Ford Health System, and the Infant Mortality Project at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
About Make Your Date
Patients can sign up by visiting www.MakeYourDate.org or calling 313-577-1000, regardless of where they may already be obtaining their prenatal care, and they will be guided through the process. The program will include a media campaign that will consist of billboards, radio ads and printed materials.
An expectant mother who signs onto Make Your Date will have access to a range of support and evidence-based medical services being made available at no additional cost through the DMC, St. John Providence and Henry Ford Health System, including:
- Connecting future moms to prenatal care providers
- Preterm birth prevention education classes
- Regular ultrasounds for all pregnant women, which can identify the potential need for progesterone, a treatment that can reduce the risk of preterm birth by 45 percent in women with a short cervix. To support this part of the plan, Meridian Health Plan is offering progesterone on an immediate basis, waiving the need for pre-authorization.
- Group prenatal care for expecting mothers, which already has been implemented by St. John Providence and the Detroit Medical Center and has been shown to reduce preterm birth among African American women by more than 40 percent.
The Make Your Date campaign asks expectant mothers to do three simple things:
- Make a doctor's appointment to begin regular checkups.
- Work with their Make Your Date doctor to develop a healthy mom, healthy baby plan, which includes everything from testing and treatment to nutrition and rest.
- Join group prenatal care or pregnancy education classes, where they can share questions, ideas and concerns.
To lead this new initiative, Mayor Duggan selected Sonia Hassan, M.D., Associate Dean for Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health for Wayne State University School of Medicine, along with Detroit Public Health Director Vernice Anthony. Meridian Health Plan Chief Executive Officer David Cotton, M.D., was also asked to play a key role in this program. Dr. Hassan pointed out that "being born full term is critical to long-term health. The goal of this campaign is to reduce the rate of preterm birth by helping all expectant moms in Detroit receive the best care possible."
"This program is bringing together civic leaders with a shared purpose through cross-sector collaboration and maximization of our combined resources to get our Detroit moms-to-be the care they need for their greatest chance at a healthy, full-term birth," Hassan added.
Make Your Date is a not-for-profit organization. Charter partners include the City of Detroit, Wayne State University, Perinatology Research Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Institutes of Health, Detroit Medical Center, St. John Providence Health System, Henry Ford Health System, Meridian Health Plan, March of Dimes and Yale University. Make Your Date has been endorsed by the Michigan Section of American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, Michigan State Medical Society and the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Learn how your business or organization can get involved to make a real difference to our moms, families, and neighborhoods. Inquire at info@makeyourdate.org.
About Make Your Date
The mission of the Make Your Date campaign is to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce the rate of preterm birth. This strategy will be executed through education, collaboration and partnerships with health care systems, universities and other established programs. For more information, visit www.makeyourdate.org or call 313-577-1000.