Training healthcare workers to handle maternal medical emergencies in rural areas
Official title: Adaptation of an Evidence-Based Curriculum to Teach the Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment of Maternal Medical Emergencies for Pre-hospital & Hospital Healthcare Workers in Rural Context
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-10918214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping healthcare workers in rural areas get better at handling emergencies for pregnant women by teaching them new skills through hands-on training, so they can provide the best care when it really matters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $372,783 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS029639-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals or those who may experience maternal medical emergencies, particularly in rural healthcare settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have a risk of maternal medical emergencies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the skills of healthcare workers in rural settings to effectively prevent, evaluate, and treat maternal medical emergencies. It involves the development and implementation of an innovative training curriculum called Obstetric Life SupportTM (OBLSTM), which uses interdisciplinary simulation to enhance the competencies of both hospital-based and prehospital responders. The program aims to address the current gaps in knowledge and preparedness among medical responders, ensuring they are equipped to manage critical situations such as maternal cardiac arrest. By providing evidence-based education, the research seeks to standardize training and improve outcomes for mothers in emergency situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by ensuring healthcare workers are better prepared to handle emergencies.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data from similar training programs have shown significant improvements in healthcare workers' competencies, indicating a promising approach to addressing this critical issue.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shields, Andrea Denise — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Shields, Andrea Denise
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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.