Rural hospital receives $20,000 grant to enhance maternal and infant care

Health

Oct 15

Written By Staff

Trinity Health Shelby has received a $20,000 grant to advance maternal and infant health outcomes through specialized education and training. The funding was secured through the West Michigan Perinatal Quality Collaborative (WMPQC), one of 10 regional collaboratives in Michigan focused on improving perinatal health.

This grant helped start several important training programs centered on prenatal and perinatal care, with an emphasis on managing heart-related complications. Hospital staff participated in simulation-based education designed to enhance their response to high-risk scenarios, ensuring safer deliveries and better outcomes for both mothers and newborns.

"In a rural community like ours, we don't always encounter high-risk deliveries, but we must be ready for them," said John Foss, PA-C, Senior Vice President of Operations for Trinity Health Muskegon, Shelby, and Grand Haven. "This grant empowers us to become experts in managing complex maternal and infant cases, ensuring our patients receive the highest level of care, regardless of location or circumstance."

The initiative builds on Trinity Health Michigan's Northern Network's recent expansion of women's health and OB-GYN services at Trinity Health Medical Group, Primary Care in Shelby, which launched in November 2024.

Recognizing the geographic distance between Shelby and Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Shelby identified access to care as a top priority in its 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment.

While the hospital's emergency department is the primary focus of the training, the impact will extend across all departments. "At Trinity Health Shelby, we pride ourselves on our teamwork," said Angie Schiller, Critical Access Program Coordinator, Trinity Health. "When a critical patient arrives, every department steps in. This grant strengthens our entire team's ability to respond with confidence and skill."

The funding originates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as part of a statewide initiative to reduce maternal and infant mortality. To learn more about the WMPQC, visit www.westmipqc.org.

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