BALTIMORE MEDICAL SYSTEM

CenteringParenting & CenteringPregnancy

Baltimore Medical System, Inc. has advanced patient-centered care across Baltimore through its accredited Centering Programs, a group-care model that has reshaped how prenatal and early parenting care reaches the communities it serves. Founded in 1984 and now employing 500 people, the organization built CenteringPregnancy and CenteringParenting as alternatives to relying solely on traditional short, one-on-one appointments, offering instead a structured experience that combines clinical care, health education and peer support.

Within each session, patients receive medical assessments alongside facilitated discussions covering prenatal health, nutrition, infant development, mental health and navigating the healthcare system. The model gives families the chance to build relationships with providers and with one another while gaining knowledge about pregnancy, parenting and long-term health. By emphasizing trust and shared learning, the programs have strengthened access to quality care for families who often face barriers such as limited health literacy, social isolation and systemic inequities.

What distinguishes this work is how fully the model is embedded into clinical operations while maintaining accreditation standards. Implementation depends on interdisciplinary care teams, trained facilitators, a structured curriculum, coordinated patient cohorts and continuous evaluation, and the organization has built systems to sustain that approach while serving a high volume of patients. Developing and launching the model drew on a multidisciplinary team of clinical providers, nurses, medical assistants, program facilitators, operational staff and organizational leadership, supported by investment in staff training, care team coordination and infrastructure.

The primary goal was to improve maternal and family health outcomes by increasing engagement, strengthening education and building peer support networks. Participants report greater confidence, knowledge and support, while providers have observed stronger engagement, improved continuity of care and increased trust. The programs operate under accreditation from the Centering Healthcare Institute, which establishes national standards for quality and program fidelity, and the model continues to be promoted through outreach and educational initiatives.