Banner Baywood reaches out to pregnant teens
MESA, Ariz. (Feb. 9, 2009) – Banner Baywood Medical Center has started a program aimed at helping pregnant teenagers with free classes and assistance on navigating issues such as insurance and doctor visits.
The program is completely free, a particularly important detail when other similar programs are seeing budgets slashed during this economic crunch.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a dramatic increase in teen birth rates, with Arizona ranking fifth-highest nationally.
Baywood’s program includes free classes on prenatal care and offers free pregnancy tests – no parental permission required.
The education is a crucial component, according to nursing director Cathy Townsend.
“We have girls who come in here to deliver and they have never seen a doctor or taken a prenatal vitamin,” she said. “They are an underserved population and they deserve quality medical care.”
Banner Baywood will team with other East Valley women’s services centers, such as Hope Women’s Center of Apache Junction, to spread the word about the program. Townsend said she plans to meet with high school and junior high school nurses to promote the new initiative.
About Banner Baywood Medical Center
Banner Baywood Medical Center is a 340-bed facility known for its programs in stroke care, oncology, women’s health, orthopedics and surgical technologies. The facility opened in 1984 and serves the growing East Valley communities of Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills and areas of northeastern Pinal County. In 2009, the medical center will expand with a new, $38.5 million emergency department with 54 patient rooms. Banner Baywood Medical Center employs more than 1,500 health care professionals and support staff, and has approximately 500 volunteers. The facility has a medical staff of more than 800 physicians, including primary care and specialty physicians. Banner Baywood is part of Banner Health, Arizona’s largest health care provider and second largest private employer.
