NOVEMBER 7, 2024 – St. Joseph’s University Medical Center is proud to announce a doula pilot program to provide expecting and antepartum mothers with the opportunity to have a trained professional working with them throughout labor, delivery and early parenthood. This initiative is supported by two grants – one from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and the other from the Burke Foundation – to improve maternal and child health outcomes in vulnerable communities.
“We’re pleased to join with the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and the Burke Foundation to reduce health disparities by enhancing support for mothers and newborns,” said Roger Kierce, MD, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Joseph’s Health. “We’re grateful to have been awarded these grants to offer all of our patients the physical and emotional support that a doula brings to the bedside and beyond.”
Through the doula program, patients at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center have access to free doula services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A doula can serve as a companion, support person and resource before, during and after labor. For example, they can help with breathing techniques, positional changes, and relaxation strategies during labor and childbirth. They also connect birthing parents with local community resources and provide ongoing social and emotional support.
“At the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, we envision a world where everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of who they are or where they live,” shared Catharine Grimes, President of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. “We are committed to supporting healthcare organizations and helping to strengthen their organizational capacity, to address critical health needs facing their community. We commend the important work that St. Joseph’s University Medical Center is doing through their doula program, providing expecting mothers living in Paterson and broader Passaic County with access to culturally sensitive and supportive care at every stage of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Together with our partners and grantees, we will continue to bridge divides and work to achieve equitable healthcare for all.”
Through the grants, St. Joseph’s Health has hired a team of six doulas who are able to provide culturally sensitive and supportive care to local mothers at every stage of pregnancy and delivery. Doulas visit expectant mothers at the Maternal Child Health clinic, in the community, at Centering Pregnancy groups, and in the patient’s home to continue education and support.
“At the Burke Foundation, we invest in families at the earliest, most essential stages of life,” said Executive Director Atiya Weiss. “That’s why we’re proud to partner in this groundbreaking pilot program, which aligns with our First 1,000 Days initiative and our efforts to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, including doulas. Our goal is to expand access to culturally congruent maternity care to improve the health and wellbeing of moms and babies.”
According to a study conducted through St. Joseph’s Center for Innovation, 51% of Paterson residents and 48% of Southern Passaic County residents surveyed said they had difficulty accessing healthcare due to lack of transportation, cost, and language barriers. Additionally, the team learned that Black/African American expectant mothers often do not feel seen or heard. These sentiments contribute to a reduction in regular prenatal care, which can amplify negative birth outcomes.
Over the past several years, St. Joseph’s Health has taken steps to better connect maternity patients with providers and with each other. Centering Pregnancy, an initiative that began in 2020, brings mothers-to-be out of the exam room and into a comfortable group setting to participate in health assessments, interactive learning and community building. The doula program represents another step for St. Joseph’s Health to promote healthy equity and improve maternal health and birth outcomes within the greater Paterson community
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ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH
Founded in 1867 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s Health is a world-class hospital and healthcare network supported by more than 5,000 leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams. From its humble beginnings, St. Joseph’s Health has become one of the premier health systems in the state. The organization continues to evolve as the leading health resource in the community, the largest employer in Passaic County, and one of the largest providers of charity care in New Jersey.
The St. Joseph’s Health system is one of the leading clinical teaching and academic centers in the country, and has been recognized for its innovative programs and cutting-edge services. The health system operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center (St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson), an acute care medical center (St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center, Wayne) a state-designated children’s hospital (St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson), an outpatient facility (St. Joseph’s Totowa Health Campus, Totowa), comprehensive home care (Visiting Health Services of New Jersey), and multiple ambulatory care centers located throughout Northern New Jersey. The system is further supported by St. Joseph’s Health Medical Group, which operates more than 100 physician medical and specialty practices across northern New Jersey.
Among its awarding-winning specialties, St. Joseph’s is home to the nationally acclaimed Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO®) program; the first accredited Geriatric Emergency Department in New Jersey; and recognized by US News with a top nursing home award and a five-star rating. In addition, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center is a six-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence, the profession’s highest honor, and earned Pathway to Excellence® designation for nursing at St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center.
For more information, please visit www.stjosephshealth.org.
About the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation) aims to advance health equity for underserved communities. The BMS Foundation embraces innovative approaches that have the potential to reshape the health care system, forging alliances with government, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors to ignite new possibilities in achieving health equity. In its therapeutic areas of focus, the BMS Foundation is challenging norms to create more equitable and sustainable systems of healthcare delivery. For more information, visit Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (bms.com).
About the Burke Foundation
The Burke Foundation provides catalytic funding to nonprofit partners, state agencies, and communities to promote meaningful and measurable impact on children and families across New Jersey. Learn more at www.burkefoundation.org
