OhioHealth’s Wellness on Wheels Making a Positive Impact in the Battle Against Infant Mortality and Prematurity Rates in central Ohio

Providing comprehensive, high quality prenatal and postpartum care and women’s health services to vulnerable and at-risk women in central Ohio, regardless of their ability to pay, has been the goal of OhioHealth’s Wellness on Wheels (WOW) program since it started in 1993. 

OhioHealth’s Wellness on Wheels mobile unit is operated by a multidisciplinary team of OB-GYN physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals. They offer comprehensive prenatal, postpartum and women's health services, including but not limited to ultrasounds, laboratory testing, health insurance guidance and interpretive services. Additionally, the mobile unit provides post-delivery care. 

WOW has made a positive impact on infant mortality and prematurity rates in central Ohio. But there is more work to be done. 

From fiscal years 1994 – 2023, Wellness on Wheels’ infant mortality rate was 5.4% per 1,000 live births, which is lower than the national average of 5.6%. It’s also lower than the state’s infant mortality rate of 7.1%. 

According to the March of Dimes’ 2024 prematurity report card, the preterm birth rate in Ohio was 10.7% in 2023 – higher than the national rate of 10.4%. From fiscal years 1994 – 2024, Wellness on Wheels’ preterm birth rate was 6.83%. 

Shortly following the release of the 2024 report card, OhioHealth’s Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mona Prasad, DO, MPH, spoke at a March of Dimes news conference at the Ohio Statehouse – reinforcing OhioHealth’s commitment to addressing this problem. 

“This topic is as complex as it is sobering,” Dr. Prasad said. “I have been either in training or practicing medicine in Franklin County since 2001, and my colleagues in research and public health have been seeking interventions and answers to solve the problem of prematurity and infant mortality on small and large scales during that entire time. As the data tell us, we are not making great progress in rates, but we may be making progress in understanding the roots of the problem. Through understanding, we have a better chance of making meaningful change.” 

The latest data from March of Dimes underscores the importance of the work done to support mothers and babies through Wellness on Wheels. 

“When things are complex, our solution mindset must shift from all-knowing to all-learning, and we have the benefit of progress over perfection. Our systems are committed to implementing changes, however small, that can help us trend this data in the right direction,” said Dr. Prasad explained. “There will be no easy answers, but we owe it to women to be relentless in seeking them.” 

To read more about OhioHealth’s Wellness on Wheels, click here: Wellness on Wheels | OhioHealth 

Support Wellness on Wheels through the OhioHealth Foundation here: Support WOW - OhioHealth Foundation