Using health data to track and improve care for pregnant and postpartum people
Modeling informatics data to track maternal risk and care quality
This project uses hospital records and computer modeling to find and reduce care problems that can lead to severe complications for pregnant and postpartum people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166518 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would benefit from a system that scans electronic health records to spot when care for issues like postpartum bleeding, high blood pressure, sepsis, or dangerous vital signs departs from recommended safety protocols. The team will apply data science and informatics to map how hospitals follow safety "bundles," identify delays or system errors, and flag cases needing timely attention. They will link vital signs, treatments, lab results, and outcomes to understand where care breaks down and how that relates to bad outcomes. The goal is to provide real-time or near-real-time surveillance and feedback so hospitals can correct problems faster and more consistently.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant or recently postpartum people receiving care at hospitals that contribute electronic health record data, especially those at risk for postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or sepsis.
Not a fit: People who receive care outside participating hospitals or who are not pregnant or postpartum are unlikely to be directly helped by this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help hospitals detect unsafe care earlier and reduce severe maternal complications and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Safety-bundle programs and targeted hospital interventions have reduced some maternal complications in prior efforts, but large-scale informatics tracking across many hospitals is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Friedman, Alexander M — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Friedman, Alexander M
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.