Monitoring for High Blood Pressure Improves Maternal Health

Funded in part by a $700k grant from the Essential Hospitals Institute, the hypertension navigator program promotes healthcare access and equity. Our team aims to prevent women from developing serious, even life-threatening complications.

The program operates at Memorial's three Family Birthplaces and in all emergency departments:

• If a pregnant person comes to the ER with a blood pressure of 140 over 90 or higher, a doctor notifies a navigator.
• The navigator contacts the patient and explains the program.
• Mothers in the program report their blood pressure daily.
• A nurse or case manager contacts the mom every three days and monitors their results.
• The navigator schedules follow-up appointments as needed.
• The navigator also coordinates any additional patient care.

"So many times, we think if we take our meds, we will be well, and we don't have to worry about what we eat or all the other things," Reese says. "But we must follow the whole recipe. Take the meds. Eat right. Follow up with our doctor."

Navigators partner with women throughout their pregnancy and for up to a year after giving birth. If patients need a cuff to monitor their blood pressure, the navigator provides one.

"If we see a spike in their readings, we notify the doctor," Reese says.

This close monitoring allows patients to get care quickly.

Educating Patients and the Community

The program also provides important education. The hypertension navigator teaches patients about high blood pressure warning signs, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Blurry vision
• Swelling in the legs
• Throbbing headache

The navigator explains when to call a doctor, how to control their blood pressure and signs of postpartum depression.

"At each interaction with a mom, we review the warning signs and remind them not to lay down or go to sleep but to call their doctor right away," Reese says.

The navigator also helps patients with any social needs - offering resources to help with access to food and transportation, paying monthly bills or taking care of themselves. The navigator follows up with patients for one year.

Reese says any patient who uses Memorial Healthcare can access the hypertension navigator program. Community physicians can also refer patients along with Memorial Healthcare doctors.

The navigator and a Memorial Healthcare community educator share information about the program at events in North Broward and South Broward, including at the YMCA.

Positive Outcomes

The hypertension navigator helps many patients keep their high blood pressure in check. It has also helped others get the care they need when they need it.

"We've definitely had cases where we've been able to intervene and get a mom back to the hospital in time," Reese says.

When the navigator notices blood pressure readings trending up, they take note. Reese recalls a patient who had elevated blood pressure with swollen legs. The navigator called a doctor for guidance but didn't hear back right away. Reese had concerns, so she reached out to Timothy De Santis, MD, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Memorial Healthcare.

After reviewing the case, Dr. De Santis directed the patient to the ER, where she was admitted to the hospital. The mom received treatment to stabilize her blood pressure and was able to go home within a week, Reese says.

To date, we have received 2,890 referrals and 1,294 pregnant people have been enrolled in the program.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.