Peahl AF, Zahn CM, Turrentine M, Barfield W, Blackwell SD, Roberts SJ, Powell AR, Chopra V, Bernstein SJ. The Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy Prenatal Care Recommendations. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Oct 1;138(4):593-602. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004531. PMID: 34352810.
Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Care Coordination, Social Supports, Prenatal Care Access,
Intervention Description: The Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations focused on the appropriateness of key aspects of prenatal care delivery for average-risk pregnant individuals. The interventions and components of prenatal care delivery addressed in the recommendations included:
1. Prenatal Visit Schedules: This involved determining the appropriate timing and frequency of prenatal visits, including care initiation, visit timing and frequency, and routine pregnancy assessments.
2. Integration of Telemedicine: The recommendations provided guidance on the integration of telemedicine, including virtual visits and home devices, into prenatal care delivery for average-risk pregnant individuals.
Intervention Results: The results of the Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations included the development of more flexible prenatal care delivery for average-risk individuals. The expert panel, consisting of 19 clinicians and researchers, provided recommendations for key aspects of prenatal care delivery, including prenatal visit schedules, integration of telemedicine, and care individualization.
The panelists agreed that a risk assessment for medical, social, and structural determinants of health should be completed as soon as individuals present for care. Additionally, the panel provided recommendations for prenatal visit schedules, integration of telemedicine, and care individualization. The recommendations aimed to ensure that individuals are connected to needed services as early as possible and to match individuals' needs to services delivered.
Conclusion: The conclusions of the Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations highlighted the need for more flexible and individualized prenatal care delivery for average-risk pregnant individuals. The study emphasized the importance of individualizing care, incorporating telemedicine, and considering both medical conditions and social and structural determinants of health in routine care delivery.
The MiPATH recommendations were developed to address the limitations of the existing prenatal care guidelines, which have remained largely unchanged since 1930. By providing more flexible prenatal care choices, including options for visit frequency, monitoring plans, and the inclusion of telemedicine, the recommendations aimed to tailor care based on patient preference and needs in consultation with practitioner recommendations.
The study also acknowledged the limitations of the recommendations, including the reliance on expert consensus due to the lack of robust evidence in certain areas. Additionally, the panel considered prenatal care delivery in an ideal setting, and the real-world considerations, such as late presentation to care and lack of supporting resources, were recognized as important areas for future research and policy recommendations.
The MiPATH recommendations were described as the initial step in an ongoing process, with plans to obtain input from various stakeholders, including patients, professional societies, public health representatives, and payers, to garner diverse perspectives on the new recommendations. Furthermore, ongoing efforts, such as a systematic review by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, were planned to capture additional supporting evidence for key aspects of prenatal care delivery.
In conclusion, the MiPATH recommendations aimed to redesign prenatal care to be more effective, efficient, and equitable for pregnant individuals nationwide, taking into account the evolving landscape of prenatal care delivery and the individualized needs of pregnant individuals. ,
Study Design: The Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations were developed using an appropriateness study design, specifically the RAND Corporation and University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method (RAM), which is a modified Delphi process. The appropriateness study involved six phases:
1. Definition and scope of key terms
2. Literature review and data synthesis
3. Case scenario development
4. Expert panel selection, engagement, and scenario revision
5. Expert panel introduction and appropriateness rating (round 1)
6. Expert panel meeting and appropriateness rating (round 2)
7. Expert panel review of findings
The goal of the study was to generate recommendations for components of prenatal care delivery across common average-risk pregnancy conditions. The RAM method was selected for this panel because of its rigor, evidence-based methodology, and ability to incorporate existing evidence and expert opinion to arrive at clinical recommendations. The study received institutional review board exemption from the University of Michigan (HUM00188505). The MiPATH recommendations offer more flexible prenatal care delivery for average-risk individuals.
Setting: The Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations were developed through a panel process using the RAND Corporation and University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method. The panel consisted of 19 clinicians and researchers who represented expertise across maternity care, pediatrics, telemedicine, and social and structural determinants of health. The panelists were selected based on their expertise and were not limited to a specific setting. The recommendations were developed for average-risk pregnant individuals (i.e., individuals not requiring care by maternal-fetal medicine specialists) and were not limited to a specific geographic or healthcare setting. The recommendations were developed to be applicable to a wide range of settings and circumstances.
Population of Focus: The target audience for the Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) recommendations includes a diverse group of stakeholders involved in prenatal care delivery, such as: 1. Maternity Care Clinicians: The recommendations provide important guidance for maternity care clinicians, including obstetricians, midwives, and other healthcare professionals involved in prenatal care delivery. 2. Patients: MiPATH plans to obtain input from patients to ensure that their perspectives are considered in the development and implementation of the recommendations. 3. Professional Societies: Input from professional societies is sought to ensure that the recommendations align with established standards and best practices in prenatal care. 4. Public Health Representatives: Involvement of public health representatives is important to ensure that the recommendations address broader public health goals and priorities related to prenatal care. 5. Payers: Input from payers, such as insurance companies and healthcare payers, is sought to ensure that the recommendations align with payment models and reimbursement structures. The goal is to garner diverse perspectives on the new recommendations from a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, professional societies, public health representatives, and payers, to ensure that the recommendations are well-informed and aligned with the needs of various stakeholders involved in prenatal care delivery.
Sample Size: The Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (MiPATH) panel consisted of 19 clinicians and researchers who participated in the development of the recommendations. This panel was selected based on their expertise in maternity care, pediatrics, telemedicine, and social and structural determinants of health. The panelists were involved in a rigorous process using the RAND Corporation and University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method to develop the recommendations for prenatal care delivery. The sample size of 19 panelists reflects the expertise and diversity of perspectives involved in the development of the MiPATH recommendations.
Age Range: The panelists involved in the development of the recommendations were clinicians and researchers with expertise in maternity care, pediatrics, telemedicine, and social and structural determinants of health, and their age range is not specified in the published literature.
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