Guthrie Unveils New Maternity Oasis Mobile Unit

The Guthrie Clinic unveiled their new Maternity Oasis Mobile (MOM) Unit yesterday during a press conference in Binghamton. The new unit will serve both the Central New York and Southern Tier Regions Guthrie serves. The unit will bring accessible maternity services to underserved rural communities, Guthrie says.

“We pride ourselves on our ability to meet the challenges that exist within the rural health care space,” said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President and CEO, The Guthrie Clinic. “We know there are mothers and families who would otherwise go without the care they need during this critical time in their life and the life of their baby. It is our mission to meet them where they’re at.”

The MOM unit Guthrie says, will be the physical embodiment of Guthrie’s Maternity Care Oasis Initiative. The initiative works to support healthy pregnancies and reduce maternal health disparities by bringing prenatal, childbirth and postpartum care directly to rural residents.

“After 35 years and thousands of deliveries, it is just as rewarding now as it was then to help bring a child into this world,” said Dr. J. Manuel Arreguin, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Guthrie Clinic. “But not every mother has the same access to proper health care during the process. It is overwhelming to be part of this next stage of maternal care in our communities.”

The mobile unit will be staffed by midwives, doulas, an LPN, a dietitian and other health care professionals needed. Vital services that will be offered include:

• Pregnancy confirmation
• Prenatal care
• Postpartum care
• Ultrasounds
• Fetal monitoring
• Annual exams
• Pelvic exams
• STD screening
• Nutrition counseling
• Breastfeeding support
• Latch assessment
• Mental health counseling
• Depression screening
• Referrals

Guthrie says they look to reduce premature birth rates within the state, but also improve first-trimester prenatal care enrollment.