The purpose of the Maternal Health Program is to provide comprehensive maternity services to childbearing women who are unable to obtain these services through other sources due to financial limitations.
The Person County Health Department Maternity Clinic offers prenatal services to expectant mothers who fall into the following categories:
- Medicaid/Medicaid pending
- No medical insurance
- Insurance that does not cover maternity benefits (may or may not be eligible for Medicaid).
- Sliding Scale Fee for payment.
Upon admission to the Maternity Clinic, the patient receives a complete physical examination, which includes a Pap smear, G.C. culture, Chlamydia testing, and appropriate lab work. On subsequent visits, measurement of the uterine fundus, auscultation of fetal heart, and determination of fetal position, among other things are performed.
Educational session offered include nutrition, preterm labor, labor and delivery, infant and child are, pre- and postnatal care, bonding and parenting skills, bottle and breastfeeding, personal care and family planning, dental health, fetal development, and infant safety.
The Maternal Health Program provides in-home visits if needed and referrals of high-risk patients to Dr. Henry Pleasant, Duke University Medical Center, or UNC Memorial Hospital for evaluation and follow up. The clinic also encourages and assists patients in making early arrangements for delivery.
Maternal Care Coordination is offered to maternity patients who are on Medicaid. (see MCC/Baby Love Section)
Clinic Services Available
New maternity patients are admitted on Tuesdays. Every fourth Thursday a maternity nurse is assigned to see clinic patients as needed with problems, or low-risk antepartum checks. Dr. H. Newton Pleasant with Women’s Specialty Care is available for telephone consultation. Duke residents are available to see patients who wish to deliver at Duke University Medical Center on the first, second, third, and fifth Friday mornings. A PA-C is available on Wednesdays to see antepartum and postpartum patients. On Wednesday afternoon, the clinic is reserved for teens who cannot miss school or patients who cannot miss work. The PA-C is also available on Mondays during Family Planning Clinic if needed. Either the PA-C or Dr. Pleasant is available by telephone consultation on an as needed basis.