Amidst alarming infant and maternal mortality rates in Alabama, both of which are higher than the national average and disproportionately affect African American women, Cahaba Medical Care is taking action in Perry County. Cahaba Medical Care, a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare, has expanded its services to include prenatal care at its health center in Marion. Located in Alabama’s Black Belt region, Perry County has historically faced challenges accessing quality prenatal care due to limited healthcare resources and its proximity to larger cities and hospitals.
This important initiative intends to bridge the gap in healthcare access for pregnant women in this rural area and enhance health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
“Our research and clinical experience has proven that local access to prenatal care and delivery services can impact these critical health care metrics around infants and mothers by helping women have healthier pregnancies and babies,” said Dr. John Waits, CEO of Cahaba Medical Care. “We’ve recognized this critical need in Perry County, and we’re committed to providing these services here to ensure all expectant mothers have access to the care they deserve.”
Dr. Laura Lishman is a Family Medicine physician who completed her residency at the Cahaba+UAB Family Medicine Residency, where she received training in how to provide care for pregnant women and perform vaginal deliveries. She then went on to complete an Obstetrics Fellowship for surgical qualifications for operative obstetrics, including cesarean sections. Dr. Lishman now provides comprehensive prenatal care for women in Perry County at Cahaba’s Marion clinic, which includes ultrasounds, laboratory testing, and all the necessary monitoring of the baby and mother. Then, when the time comes, Cahaba provides delivery services less than 30 miles away at Bibb Medical Center in Centreville.
“Prior to the opening of the CMC Marion clinic, there was no prenatal care available in Perry County. When a woman living in Perry County became pregnant, she had to travel to a neighboring county for prenatal care and often did not have the means to do so. Now that we have this available locally, they are receiving consistent, highquality prenatal care, which increases the safety of both mother and child,” said Dr. Lishman.
Perry County is one of seven rural counties in Alabama without a hospital. However, with the addition of Cahaba and Dr. Lishman in the Perry County medical community, prenatal care is now accessible to all residents, and they no longer have to drive out of the county to receive these critical services. Cahaba Medical Care’s Marion clinic is located at 1303 Washington Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8 am-5 pm. About Cahaba Medical Care: Cahaba Medical Care is a nonprofit community health center committed to providing comprehensive healthcare to underserved communities throughout central Alabama. Founded in 2004, Cahaba Medical Care is now the secondlargest health center in the state, with 26 locations serving more than 36,000 patients in Bibb, Jefferson, Chilton, Perry, Wilcox, and Shelby counties. Driven by the belief that every individual deserves access to the highest quality of care, Cahaba Medical Care offers a broad spectrum of healthcare services, including medical and dental care, mental health support, pharmacy services, and more.
