PROJECT LEADS: Christine Blauvelt MD, Neda Ghaffari MD, Roxanna Irani MD PhD 

EXECUTIVE SPONSOR: Nerys Benfield MD MPH  

ABSTRACT:  Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are increasingly prevalent, posing significant risks to maternal health, including stroke and renal failure. At UCSF, one quarter of deliveries involve HDP, far exceeding the national average. Postpartum hypertension remains a leading cause of readmission, with about half of postpartum readmissions at UCSF due to hypertension-related issues. This proposal aims to implement a structured remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring program for high-risk patients, utilizing Bluetooth-enabled devices, an integrated APeX dashboard, and nurse-driven protocols for timely intervention. The program aims to improve BP self-monitoring, reduce postpartum length of stay, readmissions and emergency visits, and enhance patient confidence in managing their health. Preliminary data from our pilot program has shown promising results, with enrollees demonstrating high engagement, high patient satisfaction, and a 0% readmission rate for hypertension among postpartum participants. Our pilot has proven the feasibility and clinical importance of this work, and our Caring Wisely proposal aims to further build infrastructure and sustainability into our program so it can ultimately be expanded to all high-risk pregnant and postpartum patients at UCSF.