Children’s & Women’s Hospital initiative inspires statewide postpartum bracelet pilot
“We are proud to be the inspiration for this new pilot project that has the potential to significantly impact postpartum outcomes and save more lives,” said Vicki Curtis, M.S.N., RN, chief nursing officer.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
When word spread about a USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital postpartum bracelet project in May 2023, healthcare workers from across the country contacted the hospital for more details.
They wanted to develop similar programs for their own maternity patients.
State leaders also took notice. As part of the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ALPQC) aim of reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality, a statewide pilot of the Children’s & Women’s Hospital postpartum bracelet project will begin early this year.
Plans call for the pilot study to supply up to six facilities with bracelets to be given to patients who have just delivered, who have experienced severe maternal hypertension or preeclampsia, or who have experienced a pregnancy/infant loss.
The goal of the pilot is to determine whether the bracelets effectively assist first responders and emergency departments in identifying and improving the response to postpartum-related complications.
Vicki Curtis, M.S.N., RN, chief nursing officer for Children’s & Women’s Hospital and former director of women’s services, was featured with colleagues on a Maternal Health Innovation podcast in November to talk about the facility’s journey with the program.
“We are proud to be the inspiration for this new pilot project that has the potential to significantly impact postpartum outcomes and save more lives,” Curtis said.
The bracelets will be sent to pilot hospitals attached to cards that list warning signs of post-birth complications. The card also will be made available as a resource on alpqc.org.
ALPQC organizers said the goal is for the pilot program to be successful and lead to statewide implementation of the bracelet program, hopefully resulting in decreased perinatal morbidity and mortality rates in Alabama.
The collaborative has a mission to promote the best health for Alabama's mothers and babies. In collaboration with a variety of partners, ALPQC educates and trains health professionals in the best and most fair ways to provide care to mothers and babies.
