NMCSD Director of Healthcare Business Discuss Black Maternal Health Week

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

04.29.2020

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Vernishia Vaughn 

Naval Medical Center San Diego

SAN DIEGO –Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) Capt. Kelly Elmore, Director, Healthcare Business, wraps up National Minority Health Month speaking on on Black Maternal Health Week and its importance, Apr. 27.
The month of April is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as National Minority Health Month – a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities.
“The goal of Black Maternal Health week is to expand the conversations about Black maternal health, increase and improve policy, research, social and health care solutions,” said Elmore, a board-certified obstetrics gynecologist (OBGYN).
Black Maternal Health provides an opportunity to hear from Black women and families about their experiences and bring community organizations together to focus on maternal health, birth and reproductive issues. NMCSD focuses on providing the highest level of evidence-based, culturally sensitive, kind and compassionate care in a collaborative way for all demographics, which includes Black women.
“My colleagues and I bring experiences from working in all areas of the globe providing women's health care to our beneficiaries no matter where in the world they are stationed,” shared Elmore. “Our team has been hyper-focused on working together with our High Risk pregnancy physicians to address issues like hypertension, diabetes, exercise and mental health prior to, during and post-delivery.”
As the world is responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Elmore shares how she and her team are working together to ensure continued support to expectant mothers.
“In the military, many of our beneficiaries will be far from families during the time of delivery and this current pandemic offers insight to our civilian counterparts what military families have known since they joined the armed forces,” said Elmore. “Being far from home is the norm, however we overcome this by focusing on support and recognizing the joys and anxieties that come with pregnancy.”
“Some of the ways my team and I are raising awareness is by participating and providing information from the perspective of a physician who trained at NMCSD,” said Elmore. “I work with great colleagues who are psychologically diverse, culturally aware, sensitive and committed to optimal birth outcomes.”
Elmore also added that NMCSD’s team review their birth data and work with community partners such as the Black Infant Health Program and New Parent Support quarterly. NMCSD leverages strong relationships with community organizations that provide services, such as doula support, according to Elmore.
For Elmore and her team, minority health is an important and daily aspect in providing safe, high quality, patient-centered care to NMCSD’s OBGYN patient population.
NMCSD delivered 2,300 babies in 2019.
NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

Visit navy.mil/local/sd/ or facebook.com/NMCSD for more information.

• Date Taken: 04.29.2020
• Date Posted: 04.30.2020 11:26
• Story ID: 368777
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US