New NEST Program Launches to Support Families During Postpartum Journey
July 17, 2025
Ottawa Valley Family Health Team partners with Almonte
General Hospital to provide enhanced newborn and maternal care
Almonte, ON – The Ottawa Valley Family Health Team (OVFHT), in close
partnership with the Obstetrics Unit at Almonte General Hospital (AGH), is
proud to announce the launch of the NEST Program – the Newborn and
Early Postpartum Support Team. This innovative program offers timely,
coordinated follow-up care for newborns and their parents, helping families
navigate one of the most vulnerable and formative stages of early parenting.
“The early days after delivery are joyful, but they can also be
overwhelming,” said Dr. Laurel Kedrosky, Family Medicine Obstetrics Physician
Lead AGH and Family Physician at Almonte FHO. “The NEST Program is designed to
give families the timely support, education, and reassurance they need, in a
setting that feels calm, compassionate, and connected to their ongoing care.”
The NEST Program is offered to all families delivering at AGH and is
coordinated by OVFHT in collaboration with AGH’s obstetrics team. Once
discharged, patients who require follow-up can be seen at the NEST clinic as
early as the next day. Each visit includes maternal and newborn assessments
conducted by trained registered practical nurses (RPNs) and family medicine
obstetrics (FMOB) physicians. A transcutaneous bilirubin meter is used to
assess jaundice levels, avoiding painful bloodwork for newborns, while
postpartum patients are monitored for early signs of infection, high blood
pressure, and other complications.
“The first few days after birth are a time when families often fall
through the cracks,” added Dr. Kedrosky. “By offering early follow-up through
NEST, we’re not only supporting individual families, we’re also improving
system capacity and reducing strain on hospital resources like emergency and
inpatient units.”
Inspired by similar models like Ottawa’s MONARCH Clinic, NEST provides
early support in a non-hospital setting using a team-based approach. The clinic
currently serves newborns and mothers in the early postpartum period, with
long-term goals of expanding services for infants and families without access
to primary care.
“This is integrated, patient-centred care in action,” said Ashley
Killeen, Executive Director of the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team. “Our teams
are coming together to make sure families feel supported during a time when
they need it most.”
“Programs like NEST show what’s possible when hospital teams and
community-based providers collaborate around a shared vision,” said Brad
Harrington, President and CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance. “This
kind of innovative, integrated care strengthens the entire health system and,
most importantly, improves outcomes for the families we serve.”
The NEST clinic operates Monday through Friday, with weekend follow-up
care supported by Almonte General Hospital’s OB unit. All families delivering
at AGH are informed about the program during their stay, and referrals to NEST
are based on their follow-up needs.
The program officially launched in early July and will continue to grow
over the coming months. Its creation reflects a long-held vision at AGH and
OVFHT to improve outcomes for families during the postpartum transition and to
do so in a way that is compassionate, sustainable, and rooted in collaboration.
To learn more about postpartum and family care services, visit:
https://www.ovfht.ca and https://www.mrha.ca/obstetricalunit
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Media Contact:
Caitlin O’Hara, Communications Lead
Mississippi River Health Alliance
613-621-9638
caohara@mrha.ca
About
the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team (OVFHT)
At the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team
(OVFHT), our team of family physicians and interdisciplinary health providers
serve people in Mississippi Mills, Carleton Place, Beckwith and the surrounding
area. The OVFHT is committed to ensuring that patients have
access to timely, high-quality primary care medical services while emphasizing
health promotion, disease prevention, and improved management of a chronic
disease.
About the Mississippi River Health
Alliance (MRHA)
The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) was
formed in 2016 to formalize and strengthen collaboration between the Almonte
General Hospital Corporation—which includes Almonte General Hospital (AGH),
Fairview Manor (FVM), and the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS)—and the
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Corporation (CPDMH). This
partnership delivers seamless, high-quality healthcare that addresses the
evolving needs of local communities. Together, the MRHA is building an
integrated healthcare system that provides comprehensive care close to home,
enhancing access and improving health outcomes throughout the region. For more
information visit MRHA.ca.