Walking through our lobby/waiting room/registration area usually brings a smile to my face. It’s heartwarming to be able to greet people by their name and have them respond with a smile, a nod and sometimes a hug.
Other times I am pulled aside with a comment like, “Oh good, there was something I wanted to ask you.” I appreciate that my patients are comfortable approaching me in a casual setting and not just when I am in the exam room with them.
I never know who I might run into on any given day — a proud mom and dad cuddling their newborn baby, octogenerians in complimentary colored attire who have been together so long that of course they would come the same day for their blood work, or the pre-schooler creating an artistic masterpiece with his thick purple crayon. This is what makes family medicine special.
It is a privilege to be part of a patient’s story and have them be part of mine. This is particularly notable when I find myself the one to diagnosis a pregnancy, guide a woman and her family through her pregnancy, and then care for her newborn infant. Only in family medicine do you get to meet your patient before they are born.
Durham County’s infant mortality rate has decreased over the past 10 years and as of 2013 was 6.7 per 1,000 live births (the Healthy 2020 goal is 6.3). This is encouraging, however, significant disparities exist.
For example, infant mortality among African Americans is 2.75 times that among Caucasians. Two thirds of these infant deaths occur in the first month of life and most are the result of birth defects or preterm birth.
Duke Family Medicine is committed to improving these statistics, because these numbers represent our babies and the future of our community. To this end, our clinic has adopted CenteringPregnancy®prenatal care which provides women family-centered health care, which includes personalized health assessment, group education and support. This type of care has been proven to increase both maternal and fetal well- being, thus reducing preterm birth rates.
On April 30, our staff members will be joining the March of Dimes in their annual “Walk for Babies” as we join together in their mission “to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.” Walk on, team “Tiny Toes”!
Donna M. Tuccero is associate program director of the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program. Email donna.tuccero@dm.duke.edu with questions.
Editor’s note: A member of the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program leadership team guest blogs every month.