Committed to Reducing Health Disparities
Welcome to WMCHealth’s Center for Women’s Health Equity. Established in 2023 with the help of a $750,000 grant from New York State, the Center is the first of its kind based in New York State’s Hudson Valley region.
Our aim is to reduce the disparities of health among women in our region. We believe it is possible to reduce the leading causes of death among pregnant women by integrating our Heart and Vascular Institute with specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, whose expertise is in the care of complex medical problems affecting pregnant women. This partnership prioritizes a more proactive and holistic view of elevated risk factors among women, particularly those of color.
Did You Know?
- In New York State, Black, non-Hispanic women are up to five times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than White, non-Hispanic women.
- Pregnant African American and Latina women are up to four times more likely than their Caucasian counterparts to die of cardiovascular complications such as heart disease, embolism, and hemorrhage during pregnancy.
- 78 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to the same report by the New York State Department of Health.
Advancing Maternal Care and Reducing Preventable Deaths
At WMCHealth, the Center for Women’s Health Equity is confronting this crisis head-on. By addressing social and racial determinants of health, championing comprehensive maternal care, and building stronger community partnerships, we are redefining what it means to deliver equity in women’s health.
Equitable Women’s Health Services
Our prenatal care services efficiently integrate comprehensive pregnancy and childbirth education into routine visits and establish a post-partum program that follows patients for a year with close communication and integration with primary care providers.
Once it is time for baby to arrive, our providers are focused on reducing the cesarean delivery rates and associated complications along with other cardiovascular complications in the in-patient settings.
We leverage WMCHealth’s extensive behavioral health network to increase and enhance access to mental health and substance use disorder services. The hospitals in Valhalla and Kingston are home to well-established neonatal abstinence support programs for babies born to women suffering from opiate addiction.
We are continuously evaluating needs and resources to improve access to prevention and treatment programs in gynecologic and breast cancer care in the region.
Multilingual social workers who are trained in cultural sensitivities help women navigate care pathways across WMCHealth and engage with community-based partners for enhanced care.
For more information, contact the Center for Women’s Health Equity in Hawthorne or Kingston. See the ‘Our Locations’ section lower on this page.
Join Our ECHO Program to Enhance Maternal Health
Health before, during, and after pregnancy is vital to ensuring a safe and healthy journey for mother and baby. Unfortunately, maternal mortality rates in the United States are higher than in other developed countries, often due to health disparities.
In 2022, New York State took a bold step to address these issues by passing a state law and creating the New York Health Equity Plan. As part of this initiative, New York State Department of Health launched a five-year Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) grant. We are excited to share that Westchester Medical Center is one of the two ECHO hubs in New York State!
Project ECHO was first developed by Sanjeev Arora, MD at the University of New Mexico. The goal is to improve health outcomes by removing geographical, staff shortage, and cost barriers. The ECHO model is built on a framework that creates a virtual community with a specialist team at the core (Westchester Medical Center hub) to initiate guidance, foster communication, and build connections. As a result, best practices are distributed and implemented in underserved and rural areas.
The Westchester Medical Center ECHO educational program is aligned with the Healthy People 2030 goal of preventing pregnancy complications and maternal deaths, and to improve health before, during, and after pregnancy.
We welcome you to join one of our cohorts. Participants will receive one CME credit for each one-hour educational session, for a minimum total of six CME credits. A commitment to attend six sessions is required within six months. CME will be provided by New York Medical College.
Register and view our curriculum
Committed to Reducing Health Disparities
Westchester Medical Center | WMCHealth Launches Center to Advance Women’s Health Equity
HealthLeaders | WMCHealth Establishes New Center to Address Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
News12 | Westchester Medical Center launches program to advance women’s health equity
The Patch | WMCHealth Launches Center to Advance Women’s Health Equity
Westchester County Government | Westchester County Holds Second Birth Equity Town Hall
Chronogram | New Kingston Center for Women’s Health Equity Bridges Gaps in Medical Care