WHITE PINE — Rural Medical Services opened its seventh Federally Qualified Community Health Center clinic in White Pine, Tennessee, in May. The organization also launched a maternal and early childhood care-management program called TennSteps in January, which has enrolled 77 patients and supported five healthy births to date.

"In rural areas, a lot of patients have difficulty accessing care because of a lack of insurance or lack of finances," said Dr. Larry Mathers, medical director at Rural Medical Services. "We have nurses and dedicated case managers who regularly contact patients, ask them how things are going, identify any problems they may be having with their pregnancy, serve as an extra means of communication with the physicians and the practice, and also serve to offer them services throughout the pregnancy to help them have a healthier pregnancy and a healthy baby."

The TennSteps program aims to address provider shortages, transportation barriers, and the impacts of Hurricane Helene in the region. It began with three staff members and plans to add one to two more due to high demand.

"Tennessee has some of the highest morbidity rates for pregnant women," said Jessie Holder, Licensed Practical Nurse Care Coordinator who manages the White Pine clinic. "Because the volume is just so high, we're seeing so many pregnant women at this point, because there are no other offices local to the area. They don't have MDs in Morristown anymore, and in Sevier County, it's limited."

Rural Medical Services received a $3 million state grant over three years to pilot TennSteps and continues to follow enrolled families for three years after birth to ensure children receive vaccinations and attend well-child checkups.