Noteboom The Law Firm

Erie VA Program Designed for Expectant Mothers

August 20, 2010 - The Erie Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (VAMC) offers a new program for expectant mothers. The New Baby Program has only been around since early 2009 but has helped not just women but their families as well. The New Baby Program helps expectant mothers with:

• All medical costs;
• Prenatal visits; and
• Delivery.

Between June of 2009 through June of 2010, 29 female veterans went through the Erie VAMC program. The manager of the program, Nadean Sitter, notes not only differences in the patients, but more of them. Sitter sees more pregnant women every week.

Female veterans are told of the New Baby Program when they are either discharged from the military, or when they sign up at the Erie VAMC for medical services. For those female veterans who believe they may be pregnant, the Erie VAMC encourages them to take advantage of any of the local Eric VAMC primary-care providers to undergo a pregnancy test. Sitter personally sits down with every female veteran who is expecting.

The Erie VAMC does not keep obstetricians on staff. Instead, the VAMC issues a list of obstetricians accepting VA insurance. That list includes almost every OBGYN in the area, which makes it very easy for women in any part of town to get to a doctor and essentially the doctor of their choosing.

Sitter personally follows all the women in the New Baby Program. She does this even if the women do not regularly visit the Eric VAMC. Once the babies are born, the mothers are checked up on to keep an eye on any post-partum depression that may develop. The New Baby program gives female veterans who are also expectant mothers the support they need.