Sacred Heart Program Empowers At-Risk Moms and Babies to Thrive

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A New Approach to Maternal Care

LaTasha McCullers spent the last few weeks of her pregnancy in a hospital bed at Ascension Sacred Heart. She was dealing with hypertension and delivered her daughter, Nova, at 35 weeks and six days. Despite being born early, Nova weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces and never required time in the NICU. McCullers credits the hospital’s Maternal Care Program for helping her have a positive outcome.

The program is designed for high-risk expectant mothers in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties. It is free and referral-only, targeting underserved communities. McCullers had pre-eclampsia, and Nova’s heart rate fluctuated, requiring close monitoring. “I was hospitalized for 41 days, and if I wasn’t coming to my appointments, she wouldn’t be here,” McCullers said.

In September, the hospital partnered with the Florida Department of Health to launch the Ascension Sacred Heart Telehealth Maternal Care Program. This initiative uses a $3 million grant to provide expectant mothers with access to maternal care resources through smartphones or tablets, especially benefiting those in remote areas.

Kelly Davies, the hospital’s Women’s OB Outpatient director, said the goal is to serve at least 500 patients each year for the next three years. From September 2024 to September 2025, the program provided resources to 355 high-risk expectant mothers. Since its inception in 2021, about 1,500 pregnant women have used the free program.

The grant also funds two new maternal care navigators, one at the Pensacola women’s center and another in the Destin area. Davies emphasized that the telehealth program complements in-person visits rather than replacing them. “If a woman is established with an OB-GYN physician, we can help get them to their appointments and remove barriers to care.”

A Holistic Approach to Prenatal Care

Kate Peabody, the maternal care navigator at the Pensacola center, describes the program as a “mind, body and soul” approach to prenatal care. The program helps identify and address barriers such as housing, food insecurity, and childcare. Peabody explained that the program connects patients with community resources, including Healthy Start and other agencies that provide support for pregnant women.

Most services are free or low-cost. For example, if a mother is diagnosed with anemia, the program ensures she has proper nutrition and access to iron infusion therapy. The program also offers nutrition counseling, wellness and stress management, lactation support, car seat installation, and home visitation and education.

Postpartum care is available for up to one year after birth. McCullers, who lives in the Bellview community, plans to use the telehealth option due to her busy schedule with two young children. “It will be more convenient for me because I have Nova and a 2-year-old daughter at home,” she said.

Success Stories and Impact

So far, the program has been successful. Last year, it removed 491 barriers to care for 355 pregnant women. Eighty percent of those mothers delivered healthy birthweight babies, and 88% of the babies were born at term (37 weeks or later). The program also addresses Escambia County’s high infant mortality rates, which were 8.2% overall in 2023—higher than state and national averages, especially for local Black women at 13.8%.

Davies noted that some expectant mothers hesitate to seek prenatal care due to lack of insurance or distrust in the healthcare system. “Early prevention is the best,” he said. “The earlier the care, the better outcomes for mothers and babies.”

McCullers strongly supports early prenatal care. Along with hypertension and a history of pre-eclampsia, Nova faced serious complications. “I had to have her via C-section, and when she was born, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck three times. If I hadn’t been going to my appointments, she wouldn’t be here,” McCullers said.

She praised the program, saying, “They are like real family here. It’s obvious that they really care about you and your baby. Mrs. Peabody called me and checked on me or texted me every day to see how I was doing.”

Expanding Access Through Technology

According to Ascension Sacred Heart, telehealth services are available across all care levels, with telehealth visits accounting for approximately 5% of outpatient visits—roughly 3,000 appointments monthly. The program continues to grow, offering innovative solutions to ensure that at-risk mothers and babies receive the care they need.