Dr. Johnna Nynas, an OB/GYN at Sanford Bemidji in Minnesota, has been named one of CNN’s Champions for Change honorees. This recognition highlights individuals who are making a difference in their communities and across the world. Dr. Nynas is among 14 people selected, joining leaders from various industries such as health care, education, fashion, and art.
Dr. Nynas has been featured in a CNN story detailing how Sanford Health provides vital access to medical care through telehealth for pregnant women living in rural towns throughout northern Minnesota. Sanford Health provides patients with a low-tech toolkit that includes a doppler to measure fetal heart rate and a blood pressure cuff to use for virtual prenatal appointments. “We are delivering care to women rather than expecting women to come to us for care,” said Dr. Nynas. “Many patients may not have a reliable vehicle or money for gas, so when we bring the care to these women and make it easier, they’re more likely to engage in the recommended care and that contributes to better outcomes for our patients and their babies.”
Dr. Nynas also played a crucial role in helping Sanford Health attain a $3.67 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategies (RMOMS) program, which was used to create the Families First: Rural Maternity Health Collaborative. The regional collaborative is focused on improving access to prenatal, obstetric, and postpartum care and reducing inequitable outcomes for women in rural, underserved, and tribal communities. As part of the RMOMS program, Sanford Health assembled a team to help set up doctor appointments, provide patient transportation, and facilitate nurse home visits to assess what patients may need outside of medical care.
The Champions for Change programming on CNN spotlights extraordinary stories of pioneers driving us towards a brighter future and changing the world through profiles of grit, creativity, and innovation. An hour-long special hosted by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will highlight these stories on air
