welcome to
Centering Prenatal Care
now offered in both
york and wells locations
The Wells program meets in the evening, and we offer a choice of day or evening sessions in York for maximum flexibility. For more information, please call York Hospital OB/GYN & Midwifery at 207.351.3455 or email [email protected].
Centering is an innovative, evidence-based model of group care which is bringing patients out of the exam room and into a comfortable group setting. Patients receive the highest quality of care and, as part of an ongoing group, form a supportive community where they develop skills and confidence to take control of their health. The Centering group healthcare models combine health assessment, interactive learning and community building to deliver better health outcomes and a better care experience for patients and their providers.
centering pregnancy at york hospital receives site accreditation
Learn More About Centering:
CenteringPregnancy® brings 8-12 pregnant women who are due around the same time together for prenatal care. Each of the 10 visits is 90 minutes to two hours long—giving women ten times as much time with their provider team.
“We are so pleased to be working on becoming an approved Centering site, our team is working hard to prepare and are looking forward to all of the benefits Centering can offer our new moms to be!” said Dr. Erron Kinsler, Medical Director of OB/GYN and Miracles at York Hospital. Site Approval would be awarded by the Centering Healthcare Institute in Boston, MA, in recognition when a Centering practice achieves remarkable quality and sustainability milestones.
“We are looking forward to welcoming York Hospital Miracles and OB/GYN Surgical and Midwifery Associates in York, ME to the Centering family. They will join a growing number of dedicated Centering practice sites throughout the U.S. who are creating a movement that is impacting health outcomes, the patient experience and provider satisfaction” said Angie Truesdale, CEO of Centering Healthcare Institute, the non-profit that provides implementation support, training and tools to ensure model fidelity to Centering practice sites.
- Centering is a model of care that brings expectant moms out of the exam room and into a unique group setting set in York Hospital’s new Garden Room, that combines health assessment, interactive learning and community building.
- Group sessions allow for more time to explore important health and wellness topics. Through facilitated discussion, women learn how to best care for themselves during pregnancy to keep mom and baby healthy and feeling supported.
How it works:
- Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, but each visit is 90 minutes to two hours long – giving women 10x more time with their provider. Moms engage in their care by taking their own weight and blood pressure and recording their own health data with private time with their provider for belly check.
- Once health assessments are complete, the provider and support staff “circle-up” with moms and support people. They lead facilitative discussion and interactive activities designed to address important and timely health topics while leaving room to discuss what is important to the group. Centering materials help moms and providers ensure that everything from nutrition, common discomforts, stress management, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and infant care are covered in group.
- We are meant to be in conversation with one another
CenteringPregnancy brings 8-10 women all due at the same time together for their care. Providing care in this way allows moms and providers to relax and get to know each other on a much deeper and meaningful level. Members of the group form lasting friendships and are connected in ways not possible in traditional care. - Centering groups comprised of women of different ages, races, and socio-economic backgrounds see those differences diminish in importance as they share the common experience of pregnancy, birth, and family care.
- More time with your provider
Moms in Centering spend 10x more time with their provider than women in traditional care. - Support & Friendship
Women enjoy being with other women who are going through a similar experience, giving them an opportunity to support each other. Centering moms create lasting friendships and are wonderful resources to one another during a very exciting but also stressful time in their lives. - Learning & Fun
The most common word used to describe Centering is fun! Centering is based on the proven principle that when people are actively engaged and involved in a discussion with their peers, rather than being lectured or given a pamphlet, they will have greater understanding and are more likely to change their behavior - Better Health Outcomes
Numerous published studies show that Centering moms have healthier babies and that Centering nearly eliminates racial disparities in preterm birth. - Self-Care
Moms are actively engaged in their own healthcare and own their health information. - Self-Confidence
Centering moms are better prepared for labor, delivery, and to care for their infant. Practices report fewer after-hours calls and emergency visits from Centering moms because they better understand what is normal during pregnancy and what is cause for concern.
For more information, please call York Hospital OB/GYN & Midwifery or email [email protected].