Birmingham OB/Gyn Receives Grant for Rural Maternity Care Improvement

BIRMINGHAM, AL, September 09, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Birmingham Obstetrics & Gynecology, P.C., a long-standing women's healthcare provider serving communities across Alabama, has been awarded $17,500 from the first funding round of the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP). The grant will support the integration of the clinic’s electronic health record system with Alabama One Health Record, a state health information exchange.

The project is designed to enhance the continuity and coordination of maternity care for rural patients who may receive care from multiple providers in various settings. According to CEO David Carmichael, Birmingham OB/Gyn has served women from diverse Alabama communities for decades. "Improving women's healthcare requires better connections between rural and urban healthcare providers," he stated.

The need for improved rural maternity care has become increasingly urgent. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the number of counties in the state with hospitals providing obstetric services has declined significantly over the years. In 1980, 45 out of 55 rural counties had such services. By 2025, only 15 counties retained obstetrical services.

For women who must travel to receive prenatal, specialty, delivery, or postpartum care, timely access to health information can facilitate better coordination among healthcare providers. Through the ARHTP project, Birmingham OB/Gyn will connect its Greenway PrimeSuite electronic health record to Alabama One Health Record. This connection will enable healthcare providers to securely access relevant patient information when women receive care in multiple settings during their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum periods.

"This is a relatively small technology investment with the potential to become part of something much larger," Carmichael explained. "Our goal is to create sustainable ways for independent specialists, rural hospitals, and community providers to work together, ensuring women receive more care closer to home while maintaining access to specialty services when needed."

The Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program is part of a broader effort to strengthen rural healthcare delivery through new models of care, workforce initiatives, technology, and collaboration. By leveraging technology and fostering connections between healthcare providers, the program aims to improve the quality and accessibility of care for rural residents.

Carmichael emphasized, "Every woman in Alabama deserves access to high-quality maternity care, regardless of where she lives. We believe technology, collaboration, and strong local healthcare networks can help make that possible."