The Roles Local Health Departments Play in the Organization and Provision of Perinatal Services

Public health efforts to reduce maternal complications and poor pregnancy outcomes encompass a wide array of approaches, including close attention to the system of perinatal health care, particularly its organization and financing. Historically, strategies to regionalize or coordinate the system of perinatal care services were developed to improve perinatal outcomes while maximizing the efficient and effective use of scarce resources. Many elements are encompassed in a coordinated system of care, including clinical services, system connections, payment for perinatal services, mechanisms to fund the infrastructure, provider education, and structures and processes for program accountability.