Streamlining services for the maternity journey

It’s been five years since Creston's Maple Maternity clinic opened its doors in January 2019, creating a collaborative care environment for doctors, public health nurses, and administrators who share the space.

At the time, four family physicians with a focus on low-risk maternity sought to integrate their services with Public Health Nurses. One of their goals was to ensure that families would receive coordinated care throughout every stage of their journey – from pregnancy, to delivery, and beyond.

The physicians, nurses, and health authority administrators and community staff worked together to transition maternity care from two separate clinics in Creston into a centralized, comprehensive unit at the hospital.

The successful collaboration was enabled through Facility Engagement funding. 

Sustaining and expanding services

Over those five years, Maple Maternity has supported approximately 250 birthing parents in the Creston Valley, offering prenatal, delivery, postpartum and care for newborns close to home. Sharing space with Public Health has also promoted immunization to increase rates for children in the community.

The maternity clinic has also seen some recent successes, including bringing on a full-time maternity nurse, a part-time social worker, and a mental health worker, with the support of the local Primary Care Network.

Accessing additional joint collaborative funding
 
In 2021, clinic staff also used funding from the General Practices Services Committee for Vulnerable Communities to support parents in need of travel assistance.

This program was well received by the community. Maple Maternity was able to establish relationships with accommodators in Cranbrook, Calgary, and Kelowna to assist new parents with travel arrangements for tests, and for delivery if necessary. Food and gas cards were also supplied to help with expenses as well.

Maple Maternity welcomes all birthing parents, whether or not they are attached to a family physician. They continue to follow families to provide support from birth to 18 months of age.
 

“I am proud to see how Maple Maternity Clinic continues to improve in providing perinatal care to attached and unattached patients in Creston Valley. The collaboration between the physicians, public health nurse, and primary care nurse continues to be invaluable for providing ongoing quality patient care.” Dr. Barry Oberleitner, FPOB 

“Public Health Nursing in Creston is proud to have been part of Maple Maternity Clinic since its inception. Maple Maternity Clinic has been a great addition to services for pregnant families in Creston and surrounding area. PHNs have found that working alongside physicians has enhanced their relationships with families during their pregnancy and early parenting journey. PHNs look forward to working closely with the new Primary Care staff.” – Terri Fergus RN BSN, Manager, Clinical Operations – EK Public Health Nursing

LEARN MORE: Maple Maternity Clinic announcement>