Wilkinsburg is known as the “city of churches.” Unfortunately, even deep spiritual beliefs held by many of Wilkinsburg’s 19,000 residents have not kept poverty, unemployment, and poor health from camping at its doorstep.
One in five of Wilkinsburg’s predominantly African-American population lives below poverty level. The need for affordable, available health care is dire, yet few or no obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, or primary care providers practice close by. That’s why Magee gives women in underserved neighborhoods like Wilkinsburg special attention.
In 1996, Wilkinsburg became home to one of Magee’s six Neighborhood Health Centers. Here Stephanie Jacobs, CRNP, has discovered some of the most satisfying experiences of her nursing career. It has a lot to do with making a difference for the women of Wilkinsburg. Many of the two dozen or so patients Ms. Jacobs and the staff see each day have very complex medical and social problems. A family-friendly atmosphere allows Ms. Jacobs and the nurses, clinical assistants, outreach workers, and social worker to spend more time with each woman, counseling and educating her in addition to treating her immediate problem. Obstetricians and gynecologists provide medical care.
“We see a lot of teen pregnancies, and repeat pregnancies very close together. About one in four
pregnant patients is high risk,” says Ms. Jacobs. “We’re often able to give them access to an appointment sooner, we have juice and crackers for their children, and one of our staff will even go out and scoop them up and bring them in for care. In this intimate setting we get to know our patients and their needs.”
Ms. Jacobs, who worked as a midwife early in her career, is excited about offering a new Centering Pregnancy program, funded through a March of Dimes grant.
“Centering Pregnancy involves prenatal care in a group forum of seven or eight women at roughly the same stage of pregnancy, who build a support community for each other,” she explains. “They learn to self-monitor, and prenatal care is not something magic that we do to them, or that we’re in charge of. They take responsibility for their own self-care, and evidence clearly shows such social support works.”
Ms. Jacobs and her staff build cooperative partnerships with local agencies and providers and are working with Wilkinsburg’s schools to provide education about pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infections. With funding from the Heinz Foundation, Magee at Wilkinsburg also provides pregnant teens with a childbirth doula who offers continuous support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.
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