That ’ s where the Giving Respect and Compassion to Expecting Moms , or G . R . A . C . E ., program steps in . Created by the team at Lovelace Women ’ s Hospital in Albuquerque , NM , G . R . A . C . E . has been groundbreaking for a highly under-served population , says Dr . Abraham Lichtmacher , Chief of Women ’ s Services , who developed the program ’ s clinical protocols and support systems .
“ Albuquerque and New Mexico are no different than a lot of other parts of the country in terms of the opioid epidemic hitting particularly hard ,” Dr . Lichtmacher says . “ And in Albuquerque we also have a huge number of stimulant methamphetamine users .”
The growing number of addicted expectant mothers , coupled with a lack of specific care deliverables , got Dr . Lichtmacher and some of his colleagues thinking about how to take the many maternal care services available at Lovelace and blend them with an outreach program . As other care professionals offered input , the idea of a comprehensive , wraparound program began to take shape .
“ We were seeing an increasing number of babies in our neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ), not only from our local area , but also as referrals to us from around the state ,” Dr . Lichtmacher says . “ We were also seeing an increasing number of babies going through neonatal abstinence syndrome , where they ’ re actually going through active withdrawal the same way an adult would . We wanted to be proactive and take a more concerted , unified approach — that involves being able to identify these patients and potentially offer them treatment .”
It also made sense to consolidate the physical location and create an all-encompassing care situation for these women and their babies . Because as things stood , there might be treatment for addicted pregnant women in one part of the state , and a NICU capable of caring for their withdrawing newborns in another — meaning separation and another barrier to quality care .
A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM WITH ONE OVERARCHING GOAL
After much hard work over several months , G . R . A . C . E began seeing patients in early 2017 , and by May of that year was fully operational and serving women addicted to opioids ( both prescription and street-based ), as well as those dealing with methamphetamines , cocaine , and alcohol . According to Lovelace officials , by mid-2019 the program had served 125 women and delivered roughly 70 babies with opioid withdrawal . ( The hospital itself has a 53-bed Level III NICU alongside 16 labor and delivery rooms and a 41-bed mother / baby unit .)
G . R . A . C . E .’ S SERVICES , WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT THREE LOVELACE MEDICAL GROUP CLINICS ACROSS THE CITY , INCLUDE :
• Prenatal services , including same-day appointments
• Maternal fetal medicine consults at Lovelace Women ’ s Hospital for high risk pregnancies
• Delivery at Lovelace Women ’ s Hospital ’ s birthing center
• Medication-assisted treatment ( in clinics and as outpatients )
• Dedicated social workers to aid in the transition from clinic care to inpatient stay at Lovelace Women ’ s Hospital for delivery
• Assistance from a social worker during the transition to the postpartum period
• Access to Labor of Love , a free maternity navigationprogram available to mothers regardless of provider or insurance
• Access to other community resources , including counseling programs