Daysi's Story
May 24, 2021Joining Forces for a Healthy Baby
Quality Care for Moms and Babies in Need
Daysi’s pregnancy was routine, at first. Holy Cross Germantown Hospital’s OB Clinic, which provides prenatal care for patients regardless of their ability to pay, regularly monitored her pregnancy’s progress. But when Daysi suddenly felt terribly ill, she couldn’t wait for her next appointment. She sought the care of Holy Cross Germantown Hospital’s Emergency Department and was quickly admitted to the hospital with a serious kidney infection.
Because of Daysi’s previous medical history, the infection proved to be resistant to standard treatment. Yet the hospital successfully met the challenge, controlled the infection, and referred Daysi to the Holy Cross Health Center in Germantown for follow-up medical care. The health center, which cares for uninsured and Medicaid patients, subsequently identified and treated two additional complications that threatened her pregnancy: serious anemia and another powerful infection.
At last, the big day arrived. Daysi and her husband, Elmon, welcomed their daughter—born healthy and strong at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, with Daysi receiving special medication during delivery to prevent any further infection. “Throughout my pregnancy and the day my baby was born,” Daysi says, “I received excellent, quality care with dignity and respect.”
“Throughout my pregnancy and the day my baby was born,” Daysi says, “I received excellent, quality care with dignity and respect.”
For all women throughout our communities, Holy Cross Health means access to a wide range of quality prenatal, obstetric and gynecologic services—life-changing care they can trust.
To get the baby off to a good start, Sharon Brooks, CRNP, at the Holy Cross Health Center in Germantown, helped Daysi initiate breastfeeding, while the pediatric practitioners at the health center began pediatric checkups and vaccinations. The baby is enrolled in the HealthChoice insurance program through Maryland Physicians Care, a Maryland Medicaid-managed care organization partly owned by Holy Cross Health.
Sharon calls Daysi’s experience, “A great circle of care. Right after delivery, we were able to take care of mom and infant.” For Daysi and Elmon, this “circle of care” meant everything. “Holy Cross Health helped us to fulfill our life’s goal—a family,” explains Daysi.
Working Together for the Health of Women and Children
When our research revealed a need to reduce low-birthweight babies, decrease infant mortality and increase perinatal support—especially among women and children facing financial challenges—Holy Cross Health innovated solutions that ultimately benefit our whole community.
Our high-quality maternity and infant care partners and programs include:
- The Obstetric/Gynecologic (OB/GYN) Clinic at Holy Cross Hospital and the OB Clinic at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, offering maternity care and services to patients in financial need, regardless of their ability to pay. The clinics provide both routine obstetrical care and specialized care for high-risk pregnancies. Services include prenatal care, postdelivery care, gynecological services, and counseling.
- The Maternity Partnership Program, a collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, referring patients to Holy Cross Health’s two OB/GYN clinics. Through the program, women without health insurance are able to receive prenatal care, obtain routine laboratory tests related to their pregnancy, and participate in prenatal classes.
- The Holy Cross Health Center in Germantown, providing affordably priced health care services to children and adults who are uninsured or who qualify for Medicaid. Newborns, particularly those delivered at either of our hospitals, can seamlessly begin their care within days of leaving the hospital. Staff is bilingual in English and Spanish, with interpreters available for other languages.