Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group Family Medicine Center has been awarded the CenteringPregnancy accreditation from the Centering Healthcare Institute. This is the first time that this patient-centered prenatal health program is available at a family medicine practice in the Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group, part of Prisma Health. It is only the fourth family practice in South Carolina to become accredited and the first in the Midlands. The program provides underserved patients who may not have access to insurance with more opportunities for affordable prenatal care and a greater chance of a healthy birth.

The Family Medicine Center practice began offering the CenteringPregnancy program in 2018. Centering is proven to improve health results during and after pregnancy. Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group patients who participate report nearly 100% satisfaction.

CenteringPregnancy is an eight- to 10-session program that expecting mothers experience together. As a group, they learn to take ownership of their health care by checking their own weight and blood pressure, for example. Each session, they enjoy discussions on a wide range of topics important to soon-to-be mothers such as healthy eating, body discomforts, stages of labor, newborn care, contraceptives, breastfeeding and domestic violence, to name a few.