Two Atrium Health Navicent teammates have been honored by the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative for their work to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants.

Jennifer Boland, Atrium Health Navicent’s regional perinatal outreach coordinator, was presented the Spirit of Excellence Maternal Outreach Educator Award for her work leading the implementation of simulation training and debriefing for Georgia hospitals to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

Carla Morton, Atrium Health Navicent’s neonatal outreach and developmental follow-up coordinator, was presented the Spirit of Excellence Neonatal Outreach Educator Award for her work on a neonatal abstinence syndrome project to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies affected by maternal substance abuse. The project involved education, ensuring consistent screening processes improved and awareness of a significant increase in substance abuse. The project involved coordination with other regional hospitals.

Both honorees additionally have made impacts to improve community health by collaborating with other central Georgia hospitals to guide in their participation in the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s maternal and neonatal quality improvement initiatives, extending their outreach beyond Atrium Health Navicent to the entire region.

“The needs of our patients extend beyond treatment room doors as we seek to improve health and wellness while bridging gaps in access to care. Thanks to the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative for their recognition of these teammates’ outreach and efforts to improve health outcomes for mothers and their babies,” said Tracey Blalock, Atrium Health Navicent’s chief nursing executive.

The Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative seeks to establish and maintain a robust statewide perinatal data and quality improvement system that engages stakeholders in evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies throughout Georgia.