Yale New Haven Health announced on March 6 the launch of system-wide perinatal bereavement care pathways during The Joseph Keane Fund Perinatal Bereavement Lecture at Yale New Haven Hospital. The event brought together clinicians, physicians, and bereaved parents to discuss standardized and compassionate care for families experiencing stillbirth and newborn loss across the health system's five delivery network hospitals.
The initiative aims to address the needs of families facing perinatal loss by providing support, guidance, and dignity during a difficult time. According to CDC research cited at the event, approximately 41,000 mothers in the United States experience stillbirth or newborn loss each year, with lasting effects on families and medical professionals.
Jessica Keane, co-founder of the Joseph Keane Fund, said, "No family should ever feel alone in their grief. That’s why it matters so deeply to promote compassionate care and to ensure hospitals follow standardized protocols for perinatal loss. Families deserve support, guidance and dignity on the worst day of their lives."
Tim Keane, also a co-founder, said his personal experience led him to focus on this issue: "I spent my career in business solving complex problems. Losing Joseph — and learning the research data on long-term impact of perinatal loss on families and providers — showed me the most impactful problem I could ever work on. Over one-third of mothers develop PTSD, suicide risk increases four-fold, and relationships often fracture. Those numbers made it clear we needed to take action. What began as a program providing material resources has snowballed into a clinical pathway embedded in Epic across the entire Yale New Haven Health System."
Speakers at the lecture discussed new advancements such as multidisciplinary approaches and mental health support for affected families. Elisabeth Schneider, a perinatal bereavement counselor at Bridgeport Hospital, said: "Supporting families through perinatal loss means holding space for their grief while gently guiding them toward healing. No one should have to walk this path alone. That’s why this program is so important to have systemwide." Angela Montgomery, MD, director of Perinatal-Neonatal Palliative Care services at Yale New Haven Hospital added: "Honoring the life that was lost, no matter how brief, creates a space for families to grieve, to remember and ultimately to heal. It’s a vital part of their journey toward finding meaning after unimaginable loss."
The lecture featured several speakers including Jessica M.Ed. and Tim Keane; Stephen Thung, MD; Angela Montgomery, MD; Michael Berman, MD; Eleanor Blythe; Katie Streit; Elisabeth Schneider; and Leslie Shannehan.
The event was held in memory of Joseph Keane, Grace Anne Schneider, and William Shannehan.
