Remote Monitoring Reduces Hospital Visits
The adoption of remote monitoring and telehealth for managing hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes is reducing unnecessary hospital visits. According to clinical experts, these tools have improved patient satisfaction, particularly in communities with limited access to healthcare providers.
- A study on a text-message-based remote blood pressure monitoring program for postpartum hypertension found that enrolled patients had fewer emergency room visits and hospital readmissions. This same study also noted that participants in the remote program were less likely to experience adverse clinical outcomes, such as eclampsia, stroke, or organ failure, in the six months following delivery. - For gestational diabetes, a randomized trial comparing a video telehealth platform to routine in-person care found that blood glucose monitoring in late pregnancy was significantly better in the telehealth group (84%) versus the in-person group (68.4%). While patient satisfaction was high in both groups, all but one participant preferred telehealth for future gestational diabetes education. - Several digital health platforms are emerging in maternal care, such as Babyscripts and Maven Clinic. Babyscripts provides a mobile app for patient education, remote blood pressure monitoring, and risk screening for mental health and social determinants of health. - In Virginia, recent legislation (HB1976) has expanded Medicaid coverage for remote patient monitoring to specifically include pregnant patients with maternal diabetes and hypertension. Another bill, HB1927, aims to further expand this coverage to all pregnant and postpartum individuals, not just those considered high-risk. - While telehealth is seen as a way to improve access to care, some midwives have expressed concerns. A systematic review highlighted challenges such as the difficulty of building strong patient relationships without in-person contact and the potential for technology to compromise the hands-on, relational aspects of midwifery care. - The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports the use of telehealth and connected health technologies, advocating for policies that reduce barriers to these services and for the inclusion of telehealth in nursing education. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) also provides standards and core competencies for midwifery practice, which are evolving with the integration of new technologies. - The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the use of telehealth in maternal care. This shift prompted organizations like the World Health Organization to emphasize the need to invest in the midwifery workforce to meet global health goals, as midwifery-led care is linked to improved birth outcomes.
