Postpartum Hypertension Virtual Home Hospital Project

Dr. Christina Dolhaniuk, Dr. Gillian Ramsay, Dr. Alexandra Prior, Laura Mumme, Chloe Woo, Heidi de Lange, Tera McGonigal, Jennifer Collins, Denise Malanowich, Ginette Lavigne, Shannon Viala

In 2021, the Women’s Health Program at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital approached the Edmonton zone Virtual Home Hospital (EZ-VHH). They wanted to collaborate to see if postpartum patients with high blood pressure who are obstetrically well enough could be discharged. Once discharged, they would be monitored safely at home in a combined care model with site physicians and EZ-VHH nurses.

The request was approved, and the postpartum hypertension virtual home hospital project was born.

The project took one year to develop criteria like patient inclusion, care paths and roles for each person involved in providing care. On November 1, 2022, the five-month pilot project launched with project goals being earlier discharge for patients with hypertension, less emergency department visits due to postpartum hypertension, decreased physician visits and lower hospital readmissions due to postpartum hypertension.

The pilot was a success with 52 virtual patients. Patients cared for were seen for an average of seven days, emergency room visits for postpartum hypertension decreased by nearly 50 per cent and the readmission rate for the same decreased by 90 per cent. All patients reported feeling prepared and supported to manage their blood pressure at home.

The success of the pilot has led to it becoming a regular care model as part of the women’s health program. The team has presented the concept to the Edmonton zone women’s health council and is supporting work to launch the same program at all other sites that deliver children in the zone.