Earlier this month, ACCESS hosted their annual Jazz Brunch, which ensures compassionate care for over 600 pregnant women and their unborn babies in our community. One such client is “Eliza” who recently gave birth to a baby boy. She first came to ACCESS Pregnancy and Referral Center for a pregnancy test and ultrasound after hearing about us through a friend who was a former client. Because she was visiting from another country, she did not qualify for Medicaid.
Debbie Donahoe, CCANO client advocate, saw Eliza on her first appointment and explained that there would be no charge for any of the services at ACCESS. She received pregnancy testing and scheduled her first ultrasound. During this appointment, Margaret Murphy, CCANO’s nurse sonographer, was able to show Eliza the first image of her baby, which was just one of so many special moments shared at ACCESS.
Eliza was concerned about how she was going to pay for healthcare during her pregnancy until she heard about St. Vincent Maternity Clinic and the discounted private pay package offered to families who do not qualify for Medicaid. At the clinic, she saw Dr. Bacchus and was able to see the same doctor and nurse at every visit, ensuring consistent care throughout her pregnancy.
When Eliza and her 11-year-old daughter brought her new baby boy in to the clinic for her last visit at St. Vincent, she received a gift bag full of essentials and signed up for the ACCESS Diaper Bank to return every month for diapers, wipes, and any additional baby items.
With the services offered by ACCESS and St. Vincent, CCANO is able to meet a woman early in her pregnancy and continue a relationship until her child is potty-trained. ACCESS has locations in Metairie, Gretna, and New Orleans East, and St. Vincent is housed in our Metairie location.
