View Larger Image Members of a maternal health discussion panel speak to a crowd
Photo by Iron Lotus Creative / Daniel Moody

UAMS’ Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., Joins Panel of Experts to Discuss Maternal Health Issues

By David Wise

| U.S. Sen. John Boozman joined health care experts on Wednesday, Aug. 21, to discuss the barriers that prevent Arkansas mothers from optimal health, and the solutions needed to improve the state’s maternal mortality and morbidity rates.

Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., director of the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation, was among the six panelists who joined Boozman and moderator Olivia Walton to offer insights, strategies and solutions to improve outcomes for mothers and babies across the state. Other panelists included Zenobia Harris, executive director of the Arkansas Birthing Project; Sarmila Makhija, dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine; Cara Osborne, senior fellow at Heartland Forward; Lisa Woods, vice president of Physical & Emotional Wellbeing at Walmart; and Arkansas Secretary of Health Renee Mallory.

“Events like this are really important because they’re a catalyst for action,” McElfish said. “It really is important to hold these events and to engage the employers, the insurance companies and our legislators who are motivated to make the changes necessary to improve maternal health.”

Panelists proposed initiatives that surround telehealth, doula care, midwifery, Medicaid reimbursement and more to ensure that mothers are receiving the care they need before, during and after pregnancy.

“We have to meet women where they are, which means mobile health, virtual visits and other innovative strategies to help them receive the care they need,” McElfish said. “We can’t expect patients to always come to us. We have to make sure we go to them.”

The UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation offers prenatal care to select areas in Arkansas through its Mobile Health program, and has recently launched a mobile reproductive health project to provide contraception in Madison County. The project will reach 14 other counties in the state over the next year. The institute also leads several projects to measure the success of programs such as postpartum virtual visits, group prenatal care and more.

To learn more about the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation’s Maternal & Child Health programs, click here.