Effects of Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring on Postpartum Readmission Rates
Location
Center for Advanced Learning & Simulation (CALS)
Publication Date
May 2026
Start Date
8-5-2026 11:45 AM
End Date
8-5-2026 12:00 AM
Description
Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity are on the rise in the United States, especially in Louisiana. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy/chronic hypertension significantly contribute to these trends, especially in the postpartum (PP) period. Remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring during the PP period presents an opportunity to more efficiently identify patients at risk of significant PP complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of remote BP monitoring on the rate of PP readmission for hypertension.
Methods: Beginning in 2022, remote BP monitoring was prescribed to PP patients discharged from Touro Infirmary with either a diagnosis of chronic hypertension or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. An observational study was completed to compare readmission rates for hypertension before and after initiation of remote BP monitoring. Data was collected from patients delivering from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2025. Deliveries between January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, were omitted as remote BP monitoring was initiated approximately halfway through this year. A comparison of rates of PP readmission pre– and post–intervention was completed.
Results: A total of 24,053 PP patients were identified for this observational study. 13,857 patients delivered between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, with a total of 219 readmissions, and 160 of those readmissions being for a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Post-intervention, 10, 196 patients delivered between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025, with a total of 232 readmissions, and 169 of those being for a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. We observed a slightly increased rate of HTN readmission after the intervention of PP remote BP monitoring (1.15 vs. 1.66%, respectively).
Conclusions: This data collection noted that there was a slight increase in readmission rates following initiation of remote PP BP monitoring. Further directions for this research would include identifying severity of disease for all readmissions and understanding if remote BP monitoring captures PP patients earlier in the course of their disease. It would also be beneficial to identify how social determinants of health may impact a patient’s ability to seek in person evaluation in the PP period. There is concern for possible delays in presentation in this population given socioeconomic status and possibility of presenting to care from cities outside of New Orleans.
Recommended Citation
Hernandez, Julia MD; John, Sidney MD; Sutton, Elizabeth F. PhD; Holman, Stacey MD; and Heard, Asha MD/MPH, "Effects of Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring on Postpartum Readmission Rates" (2026). Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident Research Day. 11.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/obgyn_rd/2026/presentations/11
Effects of Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring on Postpartum Readmission Rates
Center for Advanced Learning & Simulation (CALS)
Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity are on the rise in the United States, especially in Louisiana. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy/chronic hypertension significantly contribute to these trends, especially in the postpartum (PP) period. Remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring during the PP period presents an opportunity to more efficiently identify patients at risk of significant PP complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of remote BP monitoring on the rate of PP readmission for hypertension.
Methods: Beginning in 2022, remote BP monitoring was prescribed to PP patients discharged from Touro Infirmary with either a diagnosis of chronic hypertension or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. An observational study was completed to compare readmission rates for hypertension before and after initiation of remote BP monitoring. Data was collected from patients delivering from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2025. Deliveries between January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, were omitted as remote BP monitoring was initiated approximately halfway through this year. A comparison of rates of PP readmission pre– and post–intervention was completed.
Results: A total of 24,053 PP patients were identified for this observational study. 13,857 patients delivered between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, with a total of 219 readmissions, and 160 of those readmissions being for a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Post-intervention, 10, 196 patients delivered between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025, with a total of 232 readmissions, and 169 of those being for a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. We observed a slightly increased rate of HTN readmission after the intervention of PP remote BP monitoring (1.15 vs. 1.66%, respectively).
Conclusions: This data collection noted that there was a slight increase in readmission rates following initiation of remote PP BP monitoring. Further directions for this research would include identifying severity of disease for all readmissions and understanding if remote BP monitoring captures PP patients earlier in the course of their disease. It would also be beneficial to identify how social determinants of health may impact a patient’s ability to seek in person evaluation in the PP period. There is concern for possible delays in presentation in this population given socioeconomic status and possibility of presenting to care from cities outside of New Orleans.
Comments
Advisor: Tabitha Quebedeaux MD/PhD