Remote maternity care for pregnant people in rural Louisiana
RP2_Harville
This project offers enhanced remote monitoring and locally tailored support to pregnant people in Louisiana who live far from maternity services to help them stay healthier during pregnancy and after birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158775 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be connected with a local clinic and given at-home devices like blood pressure cuffs and weight scales so your health can be monitored remotely. In the first two years the team will work with communities to learn local needs and build the technology and relationships needed to deliver care the way people there prefer. After that they will roll out Connected MOM+—an adapted version of Ochsner’s program—so problems can be spotted earlier and unnecessary long trips to clinics can be reduced. The team will track outcomes such as preterm birth, blood pressure control, and patient experience to see how well the approach works.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people living in Louisiana parishes with limited or no local maternity services, especially those receiving care at participating local clinics, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who already have easy access to nearby obstetric care or who cannot use remote-monitoring devices or lack phone/internet access may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could catch problems earlier, reduce preterm births and pregnancy complications, and lower the need for long-distance travel for care.
How similar studies have performed: Related work—such as Ochsner’s Connected MOM—has been linked to reductions in preterm birth, though adapting the program to local community needs is a newer step.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harville, Emily Wheeler — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Harville, Emily Wheeler
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.