Mobile technology in postoperative care to enable same-day surgery in Uganda
Official title: Incorporating mobile technology into postoperative care: a shift in paradigm toward ambulatory surgery in Uganda
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11517843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant is testing a mobile health-enabled care model to support safe same-day recovery for patients undergoing low-acuity surgery in rural Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 23, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $26,719 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW012963-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing low-acuity, ambulatory surgeries in Uganda who have access to mobile technology and follow-up care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients requiring prolonged hospitalization or without reliable mobile access may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project inserts mobile phone tech and nurse follow-up into the care pathway after simple surgeries, with the goal of letting many patients go home the same day. The team has piloted the approach at a rural Ugandan center and aims to scale it in a cost-effective way. By combining remote monitoring, clear recovery guidance, and home visits, it seeks to reduce hospital stays and improve outcomes for patients in resource-limited settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could recover at home sooner with ongoing support, reducing costs and hospital strain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilots in similar settings show promise for mHealth-enabled postoperative care but larger, scalable demonstrations are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Linda — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Linda
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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.