FemBridge
Maternal Well-being with Equitable Healthcare Solutions

FemBridge, a women-owned healthcare solutions company, focused on women’s health founded by Traci Quillen and Maggie Huether, aims to transform women’s healthcare by bridging the significant long-standing gaps in the sector. An area of significant focus for the organization is improving maternal access to health care and social support. With rich backgrounds in healthcare technology and consulting, Quillen and Huether have set their sights on dismantling the barriers to accessible and equitable healthcare solutions, particularly for underserved communities. The driving force behind FemBridge’s inception to services. Motivated by these firsthand observations, Quillen and Huether set out on a mission to create a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to maternal healthcare. FemBridge offers a holistic care model that supports women throughout their maternal journey by developing innovative programs that encompass social drivers of health assessments, one-on-one clinical coaching, virtual doula services, and mental health assessments, therapy, and treatment.

Providing equitable access to maternal care remains formidable, especially for rural and economically disadvantaged populations. The U.S. is witnessing a disturbing trend with the increasing closures of birthing units and the exodus of obstetric providers, exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system, and reducing access to vital care services.

WE PRIORITIZE RESPECTFUL AND INCLUSIVE INTERACTIONS, ENSURING THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE FEMBRIDGE TEAM, EMBRACES EACH PATIENT’S INDIVIDUALITY, ETHNICITY, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND

In response to these challenges, FemBridge strategically partners with healthcare providers, payers, and brokers to create programs and solutions that transcend the traditional boundaries of healthcare delivery. By extending the reach of maternal care to those in need, they address the immediate needs of these communities and lays the groundwork for a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system.

Quillen emphasizes, “We steer away from standardized approaches, as we know that each pregnancy is unique.” FemBridge partners with healthcare providers and offers them an all-encompassing solution that addresses social as well as physical and mental health areas of patient care. The company customizes social risk surveys to identify and address specific determinants of health insecurities, including housing, food, and transportation to name a few.

Upon identification of an insecurity(s), patients are immediately connected with pertinent resources through collaboration with community-based organizations.

FemBridge proactively addresses the digital divide, which often impacts the most vulnerable groups. By providing access to essential technology like cell phones, tablets, and internet to those without access, the company ensures that virtual care—a critical link in the continuum of maternal healthcare— is within everyone’s reach.

As a National WIC Association Partner, FemBridge can help connect individuals to their local WIC programs, which offers valuable resources for mothers and their infants and children.

FemBridge streamlines the healthcare experience by providing a single app that consolidates all their services, saving providers and patients the hassle of using multiple platforms. The app is designed with the user’s individual pregnancy journey in mind, offering educational content that can be tailored to reflect each provider’s program. Equipped with a built-in search feature, patients can easily find solutions to specific inquiries within the app’s extensive library. In addition, each patient is paired with a dedicated FemBridge nurse RN, who has completed motivational coaching and respectful maternal care training.

“We prioritize respectful and inclusive interactions, ensuring that every member of the FemBridge team, embraces each patient’s individuality, ethnicity, and cultural background,” adds Huether. The nurses engage in one-on-one conversations with patients, ensuring continuity of care throughout their journey. Virtual meetings are arranged weekly to monthly, based on directives provided by the patient’s physician and tailored to accommodate the patient’s specific care plan. By using Bluetooth-enabled devices, vital signs like blood pressure, weight, and glucose levels can also be tracked, shared with the patient’s provider and compliance reviewed during virtual clinical coaching appointments. During these sessions, FemBridge nurses also focus on health literacy, around as to pregnancy and postpartum related conditions, warning signs, symptom s assessments and screen and flag for perinatal mood disorders thus providing the highest level of proactive care. FemBridge supports a healthy pregnancy, focusing on full-term deliveries and reducing NICU admissions.

They prioritize mental health screenings throughout the pregnancy and postpartum journey, conducting regular assessments to ensure its patients’ well-being. Developing a trusting relationship with the assigned nurse enables a patient to discuss their mental health issues. The company’s innovative technology platform allows them to engage with virtual mental health providers for prompt assessments, therapy sessions, and medication management.

Following delivery, FemBridge stays committed to its patients’ well-being by continuing to support patients for up to 12 months postpartum. The firm FemBridge also facilitates connection with primary care physicians for those who have not previously used those services. They initiate this process during pregnancy, recognizing the potential delay in securing primary care appointments. Patients are usually scheduled for a primary care appointment around 12 weeks after giving birth.

Through their collaboration with healthcare providers, systems, and payers, FemBridge endeavors to achieve long-term, sustainable change in maternal and postpartum care nationwide. FemBridge supports payers and reduces healthcare costs by developing value- based or risk-sharing agreements. Embracing engagement between payers and healthcare providers fosters a unified approach to improving maternal and postpartum care.

Quillen’s journey as a mother throughout her three challenging, high-risk pregnancies imbues FemBridge’s approach to maternal and postpartum care philosophy with a deep-lying personal touch. This perspective, along with collaboration with seasoned clinical advisors specializing in women’s health, strengthens the firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional care standards.

FemBridge is reshaping maternal and women’s healthcare through groundbreaking solutions. We don't merely provide answers; we confront challenges head-on, addressing everything from social determinants of health in a unique and personalized way to offering virtual support throughout the entire pregnancy and postpartum journey. Our mission is clear: to dismantle barriers, uplift women, and save lives. This isn't just about healthcare; it's about driving real transformation. By tackling the toughest obstacles in maternal and women’s health, including systemic disparities and emotional well-being, we're forging a path toward a future where every woman receives the comprehensive care and support she deserves. With FemBridge, we're not just revolutionizing maternal healthcare; we're redefining the very essence of motherhood.