Primary Care
With a passion for maternal and infant health, primary care physicians (PCP) board certified in Medicine and Pediatrics at UI Health Two-Gen provide comprehensive care for both mothers and infants, and sometimes other family members including fathers, grandparents, or siblings. Families are usually seen by the same provider across visits, though the model’s team-based care approach allows other PCPs to step in and see those families seamlessly. Weekly UI Health Two-Gen team meetings allow providers to discuss and share plans for upcoming visits, which facilitates a much-needed culture of inter-provider communication and flexibility necessary to meet the multifaceted and sometimes complex needs of families in the postpartum period.
Other healthcare organizations may have PCPs who can provide care for both mothers and infants as well, or they may rely on a combination of providers such as pediatricians, family practitioners and/or internists. Whatever the configuration of providers, initial dyad visits should be co-scheduled and co-located to the extent possible, though visit cadence may change for mothers and infants naturally over time.
When possible, patient-provider continuity across visits should be prioritized. However, because clinic schedulers may need to forego patient-provider continuity to reduce visit lead times, strong team-based care and communication among PCPs can be an effective alternative. A focus on team-based communication may be the primary workflow change needed for healthcare organizations starting a Two-Gen clinic.
Who in your organization provides care to mothers, and who provides care to infants? Are these the same providers?
Are there providers in your organization with a passion for maternal and infant health who may serve as champions of enhanced postpartum care?
Do patients of your organization consistently see the same primary care provider (PCP) across visits? If not, how are patients matched with providers when scheduling appointments?
How do PCPs communicate about patients they care for collectively? (e.g., electronic medical record, in-person meetings, phone, etc.) Are these communication methods effective? Why or why not?