The Perinatal Mental Health Partners (PMHP) model is a collaboration between perinatal mental health providers and obstetric practices. It uses universal psychiatric screening as the entry point to timely evaluation, referrals, and specialized care.
The PMHP model removes barriers to care and closes the gap between screening and treatment by integrating provider consultation, shared care planning, and accessible, insurance-based services.
The PMHP model supports both birthing people and providers from pregnancy through postpartum. This early, collaborative, evidence-based psychiatric care is rooted in midwifery values of respect, partnership, and whole-person care, beginning at the initial OB visit.
OB practices continue universal screening for perinatal depression and anxiety during prenatal and postpartum visits using validated tools such as the EPDS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PASS.
Patients who screen positive or present identified risk factors can be referred directly to Perinatal Mental Health Partners through the electronic medical record, minimizing delays and fragmentation in care.
PMHP provides timely perinatal psychiatric evaluations, medication consultation and management when indicated, and coordination with evidence-based psychotherapy services. Each patient receives a personalized Birth and Postpartum Emotional Wellbeing Plan, which outlines individual risk factors and perinatal support strategies and is shared with the OB care team.
OB providers have access to perinatal psychiatric expertise through:
- Asynchronous eConsults for patient-specific clinical questions
- Perinatal Mental Health Virtual Office Hours for real-time discussion of screening, risk assessment, and medication considerations
Office hours are educational and non–patient specific.
Pregnancy and postpartum group psychotherapy and medication management programs to enhance access and peer support. Practice-specific groups may be arranged upon request.
Fragmented referral pathways
Long waits for psychiatric evaluation
Non-specialized care
Inconsistent follow-up
Preventable perinatal psychiatric decompensation
Standardized, early referrals
Shorter waits for evaluation
Specialized perinatal mental health care
Scheduled monitoring for health changes
Early intervention to mitigate decompensation risk
Mental Health Midwife & Founder
Dual-trained Certified Nurse-Midwife and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with advanced expertise in reproductive psychiatry.
Clinical background includes:
Why PMHP was founded:
After years in obstetric care, Jamie repeatedly identified patients at risk for perinatal mental health complications—but timely access to specialized psychiatric care was often unavailable. PMHP was created to close this gap through early, integrated, OB-aligned psychiatric care.
A former president for the Maryland chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives, Jamie also contributes to maternal health policy and workforce initiatives across the mid-Atlantic. Her advocacy on perinatal mental health care informs the PMHP model.
Pregnant and postpartum patients who are at risk for perinatal mental health conditions may benefit from our services.
Early, preventive referral is encouraged for patients with known risk factors, even in the absence of active symptoms.
For patients:
For providers:
Support is provided asynchronously via your electronic medical records system for patient-specific clinical questions.
How It Works:
Connect with a perinatal psychiatric provider in real time for general clinical guidance and education.
How It Works:
Office hours are educational and non–patient specific.
The office hours schedule is provided to new partners as part of the onboarding process.
Yes. We accept most commercial and public insurance plans in Maryland.
At this time, we do not accept Kaiser Permanente Maryland or Johns Hopkins–affiliated insurance products.
Coverage varies by plan. A current list of accepted plans is available upon request.
General referrals and ongoing care:
Information shared between referring clinicians and PMHP for referral, evaluation, and treatment coordination follows standard HIPAA provisions for treatment. Separate patient authorization is not required beyond routine consent for care.
Perinatal Psychiatry eConsults:
Patient-specific information is shared only through formal eConsults completed via a secure, EMR-based workflow. Relevant clinical information may be included. Appropriate patient consent should be obtained and documented by the referring clinician in accordance with standard interprofessional consultation practices.
Perinatal Mental Health Virtual Office Hours:
Office hours are educational and non–patient specific. Identifiable patient information should not be shared, and no documentation is entered into the medical record.
Email Communication:
Email may be used for referral coordination or administrative communication, including limited patient identifiers when sent through a secure email system. Email should not be used for clinical consultation. Patient-specific clinical questions should be submitted through a formal eConsult.
Privacy and Compliance:
All patient information is handled in accordance with HIPAA and applicable privacy regulations.
Patient referrals are available to established PMHP partners to support coordinated care and secure information sharing.
Once a partnership is established:
If you have issues, contact us.
You have been referred to PMHP by your OB provider as part of a preventive, collaborative approach to mental health care during pregnancy or postpartum.
Many people are referred to PMHP not because something is “wrong,” but to support emotional wellbeing early during a time of significant change. You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from our care.
PMHP provides preventive mental health care in close partnership with your obstetric (OB) care team.
You do not need to be experiencing mental health symptoms to be referred—many patients are referred proactively for support to stay well.
Getting started
Important to know
Care typically begins with a comprehensive perinatal psychiatric evaluation designed to understand you as a whole person—your history, current concerns, strengths, and goals for care. Most people complete this over one to two extended visits.
From there, care is shaped collaboratively based on what you need and what feels most supportive to you.
Depending on your needs, care may include:
Care is collaborative, flexible, and centered on early support and prevention, with respect for your values, preferences, and lived experience.
PMHP provides perinatal mental health care that is preventive, individualized, and collaborative. Care draws on specialized training in perinatal psychiatry and is guided by a midwifery-based approach that emphasizes respect, partnership, and patient choice.
We focus on early support and planning, recognizing that emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and postpartum is shaped by biology, lived experience, relationships, and systems of care. Decisions about care—including therapy, medication, and supportive strategies—are guided by our clinical expertise and recommendations, and made by you, with respect for your values, goals, and lived experience.
Throughout care, we work in close collaboration with your OB provider to support continuity, safety, and clear communication across your care team. Our goal is to offer care that is thoughtful, respectful, and supportive—meeting you where you are and adapting as your needs change over time.
Learn more about our Patient Care Philosophy.
We provide specialized perinatal mental health care during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with a focus on early support and planning for birth and the postpartum period.
Care includes psychiatric evaluation and may include medication management when appropriate, postpartum emotional wellbeing planning, and help connecting to evidence-based psychotherapy and supportive services that fit your needs, preferences, and insurance.
Care is coordinated with your obstetric provider as part of a collaborative approach.
Yes. We accept most major commercial insurance plans and Medicaid in Maryland.
Coverage can be confirmed prior to your first visit.
At this time, we do not accept Kaiser Permanente Maryland or Johns Hopkins–affiliated insurance plans.
Appointments are scheduled after a referral from your OB provider.
Once a referral is received, PMHP will send you a secure link to create an account in our patient portal, where you can complete onboarding forms and schedule your first appointment.
If you already have a patient portal account, you can log into the PMHP Patient Portal.
Yes, we prioritize your privacy and ensure that all our services are confidential and HIPAA compliant.
To support your health and wellbeing during pregnancy and the postpartum period, we work collaboratively with your obstetric care team. Relevant information from your evaluation and ongoing care may be shared with your OB provider to promote safe, coordinated care and support the best possible outcomes for you and your pregnancy.
