Better care for high-risk new mothers after childbirth
Improving Health Outcomes by Targeting Postpartum Patients with High Need
This project will bring tailored follow-up care and support to low-income, high-risk new mothers in Philadelphia to help prevent complications, emergency visits, and readmissions after delivery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134408 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be identified based on your medical records and conversations to find who is most at risk after giving birth, especially in high-need Philadelphia neighborhoods. The team will adapt a proven care and case-management program to fit local needs, using interviews, health data, and feedback from patients. Participants will be offered extra follow-up, help navigating care, and support to manage conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes for up to a year after delivery. Researchers will track both health outcomes and patient experiences to see what works and why.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are low-income people within a year after delivery who live in high-need Philadelphia zip codes and who have chronic conditions (like hypertension or diabetes) or had complications or ED visits around the time of childbirth.
Not a fit: People who are not recently postpartum, who live outside the Philadelphia area, or who have low medical risk and no recent complications are unlikely to be included or to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce postpartum complications, emergency department visits, and readmissions while improving access to timely follow-up care for new mothers.
How similar studies have performed: Care-management and enhanced postpartum follow-up programs have shown promise in reducing emergency visits and improving outcomes in other settings, though adapting these approaches specifically for high-need Philadelphia communities is a new effort.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howell, Elizabeth a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Howell, Elizabeth a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.