Centering Healthcare Institute Identifies Houston and Cleveland Partners for Regional Expansion

Boston, MA, February 6, 2018 – Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI) announces expansion of resources and staff into the Midwest and Southwest regions of the U.S. to better support Centering practices as well as increase engagement with stakeholders and payers. University Hospitals (UH) of Cleveland, OH and El Centro de Corazón (El Centro) of Houston, TX have been selected as the two Centering Regional Leadership Partners (Partners). In October of 2017, CHI announced an aggressive five year growth plan to expand access to the Centering model of group healthcare throughout the nation, especially in under-served communities. El Centro and UH were selected through a competitive process where invited Centering sites were rated based on their ability to innovate and expand Centering within their system, as well as serve as regional headquarters for CHI staff.

“One of the key strategic initiatives under CHI’s expansion is to establish two regional offices in order to better reach and serve vulnerable populations,” says Angie Truesdale, Centering Healthcare Institute’s CEO. “We are thrilled that clinical facilities with the prominence of UH of Cleveland and El Centro will be our partners in the effort to reach the communities we know can most benefit from Centering group health care.”

El Centro and UH both offer CenteringPregnancy®, CHI’s flagship model of group prenatal care, and CenteringParenting®, the pediatric model of group care, in their practices. UH also offers Centering group care for diabetes and menopause patients.

Both Partners are committed to expanding Centering into other areas of healthcare. El Centro anticipates starting group visits for chronic disease management, like diabetes, and adolescent health, while UH looks to adapt Centering to obesity care, nutrition education, postpartum care, breastfeeding support and hypertension care.

“The Centering model has been nationally recognized as an effective strategy to prevent preterm births and improve maternal and infant health,” says Patti DePompei, RN, MSN, President, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s and MacDonald Women’s hospitals. “Our providers and patients have embraced this unique care model since 2011, and with this partnership and the new UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children opening this summer we have a special opportunity to reach even more families and expand this type of care to other patient populations.”

Marcie Mir, El Centro de Corazón’s CEO adds, “We have been serving Houston families since 1994 and Centering has been a key part of this care at our Magnolia Health Center for the past two years. We are excited to work with and support CHI in expanding the model throughout the greater Houston area, Texas and the entire Southwest region. Federally Qualified Health Centers have a unique opportunity and obligation to provide community-centric, patient-focused care. CHI and El Centro share this mission.”

CHI is currently seeking dedicated and passionate individuals to fulfill the roles of Regional Directors and State Program Managers for the

Midwest and Southwest. Descriptions of these positions can be found on the Careers page their website.

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CHI is improving health by transforming care through Centering groups. With over two decades of experience in group healthcare, CHI has developed and sustained the Centering model in more than 500 practice sites and within some of the largest health systems in the world. The evidence-based model of group medical visits brings patients out of the exam room and into a group setting where they learn from their providers and each other. Working with many dedicated individuals and organizations, CHI is building a future where group healthcare becomes the standard of care.

UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s offers expansive pediatric care in Northeast Ohio, with more than 740,000 annual patient encounters at 130 service locations. The vast network includes nationally-ranked UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital along with a primary care network of more than 200 pediatric and family medicine providers. UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital is dedicated to the unique health care needs for every stage of a woman’s life – from adolescence through mature adulthood. A trusted leader in obstetrics and gynecology for more than 125 years, UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals nationally for gynecologic care.

El Centro de Corazón is an accomplished FQHC with three health center locations in Houston’s East End that offer a comprehensive range of quality health care services. Its mission is to promote the individual, community, and social health of the East End and the greater Houston area. In 2017, El Centro improved health outcomes by providing direct patient care to over 12,000 low-income children and adults.

For more information:
Nicole Lewis
Marketing & Communications Manager
Centering Healthcare Institute
857-284-7570
nlewis@centeringhealthcare.org