The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health has released an action plan aimed at improving maternal and infant health, specifically for rural areas.
Currently, SC ranks 8th highest in maternal mortality, 8th highest in the number of pre-term births, and 10th highest in infant mortality.
And these poor outcomes are costly, says Executive Director Maya Pack.
“The average hospital charge for deliveries involving severe maternal morbidity is over $109,000 while a normal delivery costs about $35,000,” says Pack.
Created by a taskforce of nearly 60 medical professionals, the report called “Improving Maternal and Infant Health: Increasing Access to Care in Rural South Carolina” provides 12 recommendations surrounding access to care, workforce needs, training and education, and other challenges faced by new and expecting moms – including transportation.