Upstream USA

Why does data matter in contraceptive care? It is the fuel for quality improvement and the key to ensuring every patient receives the care they deserve. Without real-time, reliable insights into screening rates and patient experiences, organizations are often "flying blind" when it comes to reproductive health. 🫣 Upstream supports health centers in turning family planning screening questions like “Would you like to become pregnant in the next year?” into powerful data analytics and population health tools. By turning EHR data into actionable dashboards, our partners are closing documentation gaps, monitoring workflow adoption, and—most importantly—elevating the patient voice to ensure contraceptive care remains truly patient-centered. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gnSKk3RM #ContraceptiveCare #Contraception #BirthControl #ReproductiveHealth #WomensHealth #PrimaryCare #PublicHealth #HealthData #DataDrivenCare

 Headed to our 2026 Maternal Health Summit? Don’t miss Upstream USA’s session on standardizing family planning screening! Family planning screening in primary care is crucial for enhancing maternal and infant health outcomes. Join us on Monday, March 30th for an insightful session where we’ll explore best practices for implementing effective family planning screening within primary care settings. 

Recent data from KFF validates what we see on the ground every day: safety-net providers are the backbone of reproductive health access. 43% of female Medicaid enrollees relied on safety net clinics like community health centers, Planned Parenthood, health departments, and Indian Health Services for their most recent contraceptive visit. That’s why Upstream USA focuses on meeting these patients where they already seek care. By partnering with safety-net health centers, we ensure that high-quality, patient-centered contraceptive counseling is available at the exact entry points best positioned to bridge gaps in contraceptive deserts. As the healthcare landscape evolves and Medicaid access faces new challenges, these partnerships are more critical than ever. We remain committed to providing the training and technical support that empowers providers to deliver consistent, equitable care to those who need it most. Read more about the role of safety net clinics in contraceptive care here: https://lnkd.in/eRxec9b3 #ContraceptiveCare #Contraception #BirthControl #ReproductiveHealth #WomensHealth #PrimaryCare #PublicHealth #Medicaid

When the average wait time for a new OBGYN in Massachusetts is 3 months, it's important to find other ways to expand access to contraceptive care. Upstream’s research – recently published in a special issue of Contraception – found that integrating contraceptive care into primary care helps expand access. We asked Elizabeth G. Henry, MHS, DrPH, our Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director, to explain more. Watch below and read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/ehZ-z9Bn

“When you combine Azara and Upstream, you get more than just data. You get really powerful insights that are going to help you drive change and create sustainable impact with your patients.” Upstream has a powerful partnership with Azara Healthcare – a data analytics software that allows us and our partners to track how contraceptive care is being delivered and the impact it has on the patient population. Providers like Dr. Kirsten Meisinger MD MHCDS have found that connecting to Azara allows them to see how well they’re doing with screening, find blockers, and pull data for reporting to UDS. Here’s what it looks like in practice. https://lnkd.in/ev8BRz_b 

Grateful to the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine for hosting an insightful annual meeting focused on the future of adolescent medicine. Thanks for having us! #sahm2026

How did Valley-Wide Health Systems, with its 14 sites covering 31,000 miles in rural Colorado, partner with Upstream to transform contraceptive care? Hear from Chief Medical Officer Emelin Martinez, who shares insights about how Valley Wide was able to establish contraceptive care workflows and implement a successful training program across all sites. “Now, this team-based approach really feels like we are all working together to provide a service for our patients, same day, when they are ready - not only when we’re ready for them,” she shared. Watch the video to hear more 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gNjhTYB8 #MaternalHealth #HealthEquity #ContraceptiveAccess #PrimaryCare #PublicHealth #ReproductiveHealth #Contraception #BirthControl #ContraceptiveCare

Big news for contraceptive access in Tennessee: a bill requiring private health benefit plans to cover a 12-month supply of contraceptives is headed to the Governor’s desk! The passage of this bipartisan legislation marks a critical step toward addressing contraceptive barriers across the state, and ensuring contraceptive access laws also apply to private insurers. By allowing for a full year’s supply, this bill—set to take effect July 1, 2027—will reduce administrative hurdles and travel burdens for patients across the state. 👏 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNGTvZCs #MaternalHealth #HealthEquity #ContraceptiveAccess #PrimaryCare #PublicHealth #ReproductiveHealth #Contraception #BirthControl #ContraceptiveCare

We are thrilled for this partnership and excited to get started! Thanks, PACHC, for your commitment to expanding access to contraceptive care.

Across the country, our passionate, dedicated Upstream employees work every day to help ensure contraceptive care is basic healthcare. This #EmployeeAppreciationDay, we celebrate the Upstreamers, past and present, whose work has made such great impact on patients. Thank you, Upstreamers! 💜