A California hospital's simple, secret weapon for treating postpartum patients
Modern medical technology has led to remarkable advancements, but staff at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta know that something as basic as a strategically labeled bracelet can help save a life.
The California-based hospital launched a new postpartum care program in partnership with the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control’s Hear Her campaign. The initiative’s goal is to equip new mothers with tools to recognize warning signs and seek care in the weeks and months postpartum, when data shows that risk of maternal mortality is increased. An estimated 700 women in the U.S. die from pregnancy-related causes annually, yet 60% are preventable. And more deaths occur in the months after delivery than during childbirth, so clear and effective communication with health care providers is vital.
As part of the initiative, patients are encouraged to wear labeled wristbands that say "I gave birth" in the days and weeks post-delivery, so they can receive specialized treatment if they present symptoms in the emergency room — symptoms that may be treated differently if they weren’t postpartum.