Centering Healthcare Institute

Centering Healthcare Institute

National Coordination of an Innovative Group Care Model
   

Background & Goal

Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI) is a nonprofit established in 2001 by Sharon Rising that aims to improve health by transforming care through Centering groups. The organization has worked closely with healthcare providers from all sectors to change healthcare. With over two decades of experience and innovation, CHI has become the go-to resource for group care. It has developed and sustained the Centering group model in more than 470 practice sites and within some of the largest health systems in the world.

Broad improvement in health care delivery requires engaging patients in their care and helping providers forge dynamic partnerships with patients. The Centering model of group health care aims to change the paradigm of health services to improve overall outcomes across the life cycle by providing education, training, and support for individuals and organizations in the United States and around the world.

Description

Centering is a model of group health care with three components – healthcare, interactive learning, and community building – provided in a group facilitated by a credentialed health provider and a co-facilitator who is a nurse or other appropriate staff member. The components are defined by several key elements that support the facilitated discussion. There are patient materials available for two of the established models: CenteringPregnancy and CenteringParenting, with potential for additional models in chronic care. CHI has a network of more than 12 consultants across the US who lead training workshops, provide consultation to sites, and conduct site approval visits. Centeringgroups are composed of a stable cohort of patients who meet regularly with their care provider for 90 minutes and up to two hours, which is ten times longer than in traditional prenatal care appointments. Centering promotes individual health empowerment and the opportunity for community-building. Visit www.centeringhealthcare.org for more details.

For More Information Contact:

Sharon Schindler Rising

Founder & President Emeritus 
Centering Healthcare Institute
89 South Street #404
Boston, MA 02111
srising@centeringhealthcare.org
www.centeringhealthcare.org

Angie Truesdale

CEO
Centering Healthcare Institute
89 South Street #404
Boston, MA 02111
atruesdale@centeringhealthcare.org
www.centeringhealthcare.org

Evidence of Success

The Centering model has demonstrated repeated improved outcomes throughout  20 plus years  of implementation and evaluation.  Over 200 published articles, including three randomized trials, have reported improved health outcomes including up to a 47% reduction in preterm birth, better attendance, increased breast feeding, high satisfaction with care, longer pregnancy spacing and improved immunization rates. Cost studies are documenting significant savings to the system. In 2016 it is estimated that over 50,000 women in over 400 sites received care through the model. This model responds to the goals of the Triple Aim of Better Care, Better Health, Lower Cost.

In a randomized control trial conducted through Yale University on 1,047 women in public clinics randomized to traditional or group care, there was a 33 percent reduction in preterm birth for women in Centering groups. In addition, satisfaction with care was significantly higher; there were increased breast-feeding rates, and improved knowledge and readiness for birth and parenting. The University of Kentucky estimates that under their Centering Pregnancy Smiles program, a reduction in preterm births from 13.7 percent to 6.6 percent saved approximately $2.1 million over the two years of this study.