Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Diabetes Centering program improves maternal, fetal health
Diabetes in pregnancy can significantly impact maternal and fetal health, potentially leading to complications like preterm labor or necessitating neonatal intensive care. In 2025, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s women’s health department launched a Diabetes Centering program, a group-based care model specifically designed for pregnancies complicated by diabetes.
The program is supported by a multidisciplinary team, including a program coordinator, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, diabetes educator, nurse practitioner, registered nurses, medical assistants, patient navigators and embedded community health workers. Live interpreters attend each session, ensuring full engagement and meaningful interaction for all participants.
Notably, more than 65% of enrolled patients require language assistance, underscoring the program’s commitment to accessible, culturally responsive care. Additionally, patient surveys conducted during reunion meetings show that most participants receive educational materials in their preferred language and report high satisfaction with translation services.
The group sessions held each week foster a supportive environment where patients celebrate successes, share challenges and encourage one another’s progress. Vital signs are collected using distributed equipment and are seamlessly integrated into the electronic health record. Each participant receives a comprehensive care kit, including a blood pressure monitor, scale, Doppler, thermometer and continuous glucose monitor.
Community health workers bridge gaps between patients and providers through education reinforcement and home visits that address health-related social needs. Among the 66 participants who have delivered and completed the program, more than 85% complied with diabetes management, dietary recommendations and glucose monitoring. Only 35% experienced any birth-related complications, reflecting favorable outcomes in a high-risk population.
Diabetes Centering builds upon the hospital’s CenteringPregnancy initiative (established in 2014) and is a core component of its elevateHER program, advancing comprehensive, patient-centered maternal care.
For more information about the program, contact Xavia Malcolm, assistant director, public affairs, at xmalcolm@jhmc.org.
