RAPPAHANNOCK AREA HEALTH DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE MARY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND

December 12, 2012

Recently, the Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) received a $70,000 grant from the Mary Washington Hospital Community Service Fund for its high-risk maternity program.  Maternity patients are categorized as “high-risk” due to medical or obstetrical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, blood disease, renal disease, pulmonary disease, repeat Caesarian sections, and a host of other ailments which puts them at a higher risk for a poor pregnancy outcome.

Many of these patients require a more intensive visit schedule, case management and counseling.  Over a three-year period (2010 through 2012), the number of maternity patients with chronic conditions during their pregnancies, mental health issues, tobacco, drug and alcohol use and premature deliveries has increased.

The program is subsidized through Federal grants and works to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes, and contain the community’s health care costs by decreasing or eliminating the cost of long-term care of infants with medical problems, and improve access to quality health care.  The grant helps to offset the increased cost of the high-risk maternity program.