ProgenyHealth expands partnership to improve maternal health

The healthcare company ProgenyHealth has expanded its partnership with the women’s health solutions company Wildflower Health to improve maternal health outcomes.

The collaboration aims to break down “existing silos” and help health plans move faster to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

ProgenyHealth is on a mission to transform NICU care management driving towards better outcomes and lower total costs for babies that experience a NICU stay.

The company’s maternity programme covers the time period from conception and pregnancy to postpartum and parenting with special expertise in managing premature and complex births and resulting NICU admissions.

By extending its reach to prenatal care management several years ago, ProgenyHealth says it was able to both improve maternal health and target NICU prevention.

The company turned to Wildflower Health to advance its mission.

“We have been working with Wildflower Health over these past few years  to provide integrated solutions to moms throughout their entire pregnancy journey,” said Susan Torroella, CEO at ProgenyHealth.

“While digital tools and consumer apps are not new to the world of healthcare, we are taking a uniquely cooperative approach to member-facing technology that positively affects enrollment, engagement, and health plan member impact.

“In a time when it is important for health plans to continually differentiate their work and value, our ongoing collaboration with Wildflower does just that. Together, we believe it is our responsibility to provide the best technology solutions along with the most compassionate human connection.”

The partnership, Torroella said, seeks to “personalise” maternity and NICU care management through a whole-person approach.

Leah Sparks, founder and CEO, Wildflower, said: “Wildflower’s overall solutions comprehensively address access, cost, outcomes and experience throughout women’s health.

“Our strategic partnership with ProgenyHealth seamlessly helps health plans fill gaps, collapse silos and integrate into existing clinical and operational workflows.

“When it comes to maternal health, early identification coupled with timely member engagement drives momentum and improves care. Our goal is to always support the whole person by helping address the clinical and social determinants of health (SDOH) needs of members and their families.”

The healthcare challenges facing women in the US, particularly when it comes to giving birth, are growing. While maternal mortality rates have more than doubled since 2000, a majority of these deaths are preventable.

To improve in this regard, ProgenyHealth believes the industry must strive to remove “artificial barriers” to care and move faster and engage members, while providing support and resources to ensure a healthier pregnancy.

“Once health plans have identified pregnant members, it is critical that they maintain consistent engagement to avoid missed interventions and opportunities,” Torroella explained.

“As more than 60 per cent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, it is important that new mums are aware of all recommended prenatal and postpartum care options available to them.

“This is a huge first step in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.”