by JEAN-MARIE JAVORSKI, RN, CCM
Manager of Care Management for the Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan.
BOSTON – It has become increasingly evident that stress is detrimental to our health. The impact of stress on health outcomes may be most apparent in pregnant women. Studies have shown that heightened levels of stress during pregnancy can lead to long-term health and development problems in the fetus.
Sunny Start, a program run by Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan in Massachusetts, seeks to reduce pregnancy-related stress in women. It is a care management program that provides medical guidance, member benefits, access to community resources, and support networks for pregnant women. By easing the stress of mothers-to-be through their holistic approaches, Sunny Start improves health outcomes for both mothers and their newborn children.
Medical guidance is the first priority
Sunny Start’s primary focus is on the physical well-being of pregnant plan members to help them deliver healthier babies. The program provides direct access to obstetric nurses and customized care planning by either care coordinators or registered nurses. Program members receive reminder calls about appointments and important postpartum milestones. In addition, Sunny Start empowers women to take control of their pregnancy by covering the cost of members should they want to attend local childbirth educational classes.
Connecting members to community resources
When BMC HealthNet Plan members sign up for the Sunny Start program, they undergo a personal health assessment via the phone with one of the program’s care coordinators or registered nurses. The assessment takes into account all aspects of a member’s life in order to see where they may require additional support in regards to their pregnancy. The holistic approach focuses on a member’s health, housing, transportation, financial, employment, nutrition, and insurance situations. Care coordinators are in a position to help connect members to the community resources they may need. In addition, the program provides a 24/7 nurse advice line in order to provide round-the-clock support to all members insured by Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan. Just knowing that this resource is available can help ease tensions that naturally arise during pregnancy for many women.
Member benefits grow with children
MassHealth members of the Sunny Start program are eligible to receive material benefits, in addition to the vast amount of educational information they have access to. These members can receive free car seats (that are replaced as the child grows), manual breast pumps, dental kits including a battery powered toothbrush, and bicycle helmets (also replaced as the child grows to ensure a correct fit). If mothers attend the crucial check-up appointment 3-8 weeks after delivery, the program gives mothers between 100-200 free diapers as an incentive.
At the end of the day, Sunny Start hopes to be a resource for pregnant women across the state. By giving them confidence to take charge of their own family’s health outcomes, the program teaches women how to continue to cultivate healthy lifestyles that will endure long after Sunny Start ends.
