Newport News, VA, November 1, 2018 – TPMG Obstetrics and Gynecology is proud to announce they have been awarded a grant from March of Dimes and Anthem Blue and Cross Blue Shield Foundation. The grant is part of March of Dimes efforts to fight for the health of all moms and babies by reducing premature births and improving maternal and infant health. The grant will support CenteringPregnancy®, a group prenatal care model that provides invaluable education and care for expectant mothers and babies in Newport News and the surrounding communities.
The CenteringPregnancy® group model of care promotes education and social support by bringing together women in the same stage of pregnancy. Group sessions include individual health assessments followed by facilitated discussion of topics tailored to the group, as well as special interest topics designed to provide education and promote a community of social support amongst the mothers through pre and post-partum stages.
“TPMG Obstetrics and Gynecology is grateful for the support of March of Dimes and extremely proud to have received this grant to promote education and foster a community of social support amongst the mothers and families in the groups.” said the TPMG Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and lead facilitator, Kelly Murrer.
March of Dimes has been a driving force behind research and funding of interventions and educational programs to decrease preterm births and infant mortality rates. The community grants are made possible by the continued partnership between the March of Dimes and the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation provided close to $80,000 to programs in Virginia in 2018 to support CenteringPregnancy®.
The efforts of the March of Dimes and its regional partners are more important than ever as preterm birth rates rise nationally. The most recent 2017 Annual Report from March of Dimes indicates a 9.6% preterm birth rate in Virginia, a .4% increase from the 2016 report and the state’s highest rate in nearly a decade.
ABOUT THE TIDEWATER PHYSICIANS MULTISPECIALTY GROUP
Founded in 1992, Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group (TPMG) includes more than 220 primary care, specialty physicians and advanced practice clinicians in more than 75 locations throughout southeastern Virginia. TPMG’s mission is to provide superior healthcare that is responsible, physician-directed, and dedicated to keeping patients’ best interest foremost. The TPMG medical team includes expert physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, diagnostic staff, and non-clinical staff all working together to provide consistent, compassionate, high-quality medical care. Learn more at www.mytpmg.com.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we stand up for every mom and every baby. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates’ pledges, as well as it’s Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
