Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

SHANDS JACKSONVILLE MEDICAL CENTER– Jacksonville , Florida
Little Miracles Program

What is it?
Upon enrolling in Little Miracles, expectant mothers receive a membership card and a telephone number that connects them directly to the labor and delivery unit 24 hours a day. Partnering with other local organizations, these patients learn about prenatal services earlier. Instead of seeing women who are in their second or third trimester for the first time, physicians and nurses are seeing them within six weeks of getting pregnant. As an incentive-based program, Little Miracles encourages pregnant women by offering prizes, such as baby seats, strollers, and bassinets, for becoming more active in their health care. Additionally, Little Miracles hosts a citywide baby shower three times a year where expectant mothers can come to learn about nutrition, breastfeeding, child support enforcement, car seat safety, baby care, CPR, financial assistance, and more from a variety of public agencies and private organizations in the area. 

Who is it for?
Little Miracles seeks out all expectant mothers in the community who are in need of medical care, nutritional guidance, insurance information, and pregnancy education.

Why do they do it?
The program was started in response to the staggering infant mortality rate in Duval County, which was much higher than the state’s rate and, in fact, higher than the rates of some Third World countries.

Impact: Since the program began in October 2000, Little Miracles has assisted 30,617 mothers, including about 4,000 who are currently pregnant. The infant mortality rate in the county has been reduced from 11.2 in 2001 to 10.6 in 2006, and the region’s rate among minority populations has decreased dramatically from 17.5 in 2001 to 12.0 in 2006.

Contact: Donna Ghanayem, R.N.
Director of Community Outreach Programs
Telephone: 904-244-8108

E-mail: Donna.Ghanayem@jax.ufl.edu