Columbus Community Hospital’s maternal child health department is joining hospitals across the state in a new initiative aimed at saving the lives of postpartum patients. Photo provided
COLUMBUS — Columbus Community Hospital’s maternal child health department is joining hospitals across the state in a new initiative aimed at saving the lives of postpartum patients.
The Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC) recently launched Postpartum Alert: A Life-Saving Maternal Safety Initiative. This program is designed to reduce maternal mortality and improve care during the critical weeks after childbirth. As a participating hospital, CCH is helping lead the effort to improve health outcomes for mothers in Columbus and the surrounding communities.
“Columbus Community Hospital is honored to collaborate with the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative on the Postpartum Alert Project,” said Kim Eisenmann, director of maternal child health care at CCH. “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing maternal health and ensuring the best possible outcomes for mothers and their newborns. By raising awareness of postpartum warning signs, we aim to empower both patients and providers to respond swiftly and effectively when complications arise.”
Through this initiative, postpartum patients at CCH will receive a teal wristband to wear during the first six weeks after delivery. This simple, visual identifier helps alert doctors and other health care providers that the patient is in the postpartum period, ensuring they receive timely care for any serious symptoms or complications.
The initiative also encourages new mothers to take an active role in their recovery. Patients are reminded to attend all postpartum follow-up appointments, take prescribed medications as directed and seek immediate care if they experience symptoms of complications.
Emergency warning signs that require calling 911 include chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, uncontrollable bleeding or thoughts of self-harm or harming others. Other symptoms — such as severe headaches, dizziness, heavy or persistent bleeding, swollen or painful legs, fatigue, high blood pressure or a persistent fever — should prompt immediate contact with a doctor.
NPQIC was established in 2015 and is one of 36 perinatal quality collaboratives funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization works to promote evidencebased practices, reduce health disparities and improve maternal and newborn care throughout Nebraska.
For more information about services at Columbus Community Hospital, visit columbushosp.org or call 402-564-7118.