Arlington, VA (November 12, 2019) – A study conducted by researchers at the RAND Corporation found that women with access to “tele-lactation” had 7% higher overall rates of breastfeeding and 24% higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding compared to a control group.

In one of the first federally funded studies to evaluate the impact of telemedicine on breastfeeding, patients giving birth at a Pennsylvania critical access hospital were offered free postpartum access to Pacify – an app which instantly connects mothers to unlimited video visits with International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants and other maternal and pediatric experts.

“This study shows that Advantia’s Pacify app holds tremendous promise in improving health outcomes for infants and mothers,” said Advantia Health Chief Medical Officer Lisa Shah.

50% of study participants made calls through the Pacify app and 33% had at least one substantive clinical consultation – a level of utilization, “which is quite high when you consider that when telehealth is offered to a population, you typically see uptake of <1%-20%,” said Lori Uscher-Pines, lead author on the study.

Nearly 90% of study participants said the app was helpful, and over 91% said they were satisfied with the help they received. Importantly, populations with negative health risk factors, including smoking, obesity, and c-section deliveries, used Pacify at a higher rate, suggesting that tele-lactation support may disproportionally benefit complex patients.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding through the first six months, because of the health benefits it provides for infants and mothers. However, according to the CDC, only 25% of infants in the U.S. are exclusively breastfed through six months.

The study was originally published in Academic Pediatrics, and qualitative papers about it have been published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research and the National Center for Biotechnology Research.

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Advantia is transforming healthcare for all women – we’re setting a higher standard of care and convenience while reducing unnecessary costs. Compassion and value inspire everything we do. We take time to listen, answer questions completely, and offer helpful technology between visits so that our patients are empowered and at ease. Alongside coordinated care, Advantia is pioneering care models that align incentives with the best interests of women and their families.

Advantia Health provides direct care through more than 200 providers across 60 locations serving over 430,000 patients at our OB-GYN and coordinated specialist offices. Advantia’s technology products also enable health plans, state health organizations, hospital systems, and employers to deliver high-value care through technology products including Pacify’s perinatal app. Pacify provides on-demand access to maternal and pediatric experts, 24/7 – no appointments, no waiting.

Learn more at AdvantiaHealth.com and Pacify.com