Rural maternity and obstetrics management strategies program - in response to the health resources and services administration's rural maternity and obstetric management strategies program…

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded McDonough District Hospital Foundation, Inc., $967,197 under the Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategies Program (CFDA 93.912) on September 30, 2026.

The recipient will establish McDonough District Hospital Maternal Outreach and Medical Care (MDH MOMCARE), a hub-and-spoke maternal health network serving 11 rural counties in west central Illinois: Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Mason, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler, and Warren. The initiative expands access to preconception, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care by integrating McDonough District Hospital as the clinical hub with academic institutions, state-level agencies, community health providers, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, telehealth, and specialty consultation services. Network partners include the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services, OSF Saint Francis–Peoria, Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital, Family Care and Pregnancy Center of Rushville, Springfield Clinic of Macomb, and Memorial Hospital Association.

The targeted region comprises seven maternal care deserts and two low or moderate access counties, characterized by limited obstetric and behavioral health services, significant transportation challenges, elevated poverty rates, higher-than-average obstetric complications, preventable hospitalizations, poor perinatal outcomes, workforce shortages, and geographic isolation.

The project runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2030, with place of performance in Macomb, Illinois.

Rural maternity and obstetrics management strategies program - in response to the health resources and services administration's rural maternity and obstetric management strategies program (hrsa-25-041), mcdonough district hospital (MDH) and the mcdonough district hospital foundation (mdhf) propose mcdonough district hospital maternal outreach and medical care (MDH momcare). This coordinated maternal health initiative will serve 11 rural counties in west central illinois. Led by mdhf with MDH as the clinical hub, the project will expand access to preconception, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care through a hub-and-spoke model, integrating academic and state-level institutions, community health providers, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, telehealth, and specialty consultation services. Network partners include MDH, mdhf, illinois department of healthcare & family services, OSF saint francis - peoria, sarah d. Culbertson memorial hospital, family care and pregnancy center of rushville, springfield clinic of macomb and memorial hospital association. The region targeted by this project is a historically underserved area illinois with some of the state's most persistent health disparities, encompassing adams, brown, cass, fulton, hancock, henderson, mason, mcdonough, pike, schuyler, and warren counties. Seven of these counties are maternal care deserts, accounting for 20% of illinois maternal deserts. Two others are low or moderate access. The area faces limited access to obstetric (OB) and behavioral health services, significant transportation challenges, and elevated poverty rates. Data show higher-than-average rates of OB complications and high-risk conditions, preventable hospitalizations, and poor perinatal outcomes across the region. Systemic underinvestment, workforce shortages and geographic isolation also present continued challenges in these communities. The MDH momcare network will address these needs by establishing five total rural outreach clinics, deploying OB telehealth (maternal-fetal medicine, behavioral health, lactation, and more), and implementing a standardized bundle of care built on best practices from national organizations. The network will collaborate to provide OB emergency training, education, and simulation-based preparedness across the region. IT will also develop culturally-respectful outreach efforts, including a unique collaboration with amish and mennonite lay midwives, to bring accessible care to underserved families. Target populations include pregnant and postpartum individuals the 11-county area -particularly those impacted by transportation and geographic barriers, limited access, substance use disorder, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions. Special focus will be given to women at elevated risk for maternal mortality and morbidity due to delayed prenatal care, rural isolation, or complex clinical conditions. The project includes embedded social work and community health worker navigation to strengthen care transitions and follow-up. Key project goals: 1) increase coordination of and access to OB care by expanding and enhancing local infrastructure, telehealth, and outreach clinics 2) improve care quality through provider education, OB emergency simulations, and a standardized rural maternal care bundle 3) improve and provide sustainable, evidence-based delivery models for patient education, referral and support services 4) reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity through early detection of risk factors, enhanced behavioral health integration, and other supports the MDH momcare model is designed for scalability and sustainability, with a focus on culturally appropriate services addressing barriers and disparities. MDH and mdhf will lead network convenings, oversee project implementation, and evaluate performance metrics in collaboration with partners. Through this project, the MDH momcare network will transform rural maternal health care delivery and create a replicable model for other rural regions.