Santa Rosa Medical Center helps launch a region-wide Postpartum health Initiative

2/1/2024

Women’s Health leaders and emergency personnel aim to identify unique patients' needs to leverage easier access to care

MILTON, Fla., (Feb. 1) - Santa Rosa Medical Center is teaming up with local hospitals and emergency response teams spanning from Escambia County to Walton County, FL, for a postpartum initiative aimed at helping moms get better access to care in an emergency. More than two-thirds (69%) of women reported experiencing at least one physical health problem in the 9-12 months since giving, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The new initiative gives mothers a silver rubber wristband they can wear for up to a year postpartum. This would help personnel and medical providers identify their medical history when they seek care through EMS, ERs or other medical sites. During the postpartum period, women are particularly susceptible to complications including sepsis, preeclampsia, postpartum depression and strokes.

“This effort is also about educating our postpartum patients on how to speak up when they feel like something is off, and ensuring that they’re heard,” said Amy Peek, Director of Women’s Services at Santa Rosa Medical Center. “This coordinated effort by myself and other Women’s services leaders across the region hopes to change perceptions and give postpartum mothers the personalized care they need.”

According to the NIH, there is a need for increased support for postpartum women who sometimes don’t feel adequately supported. Additionally, the agency outlines that identifying each pregnant woman’s support needs and expectations plays a strong role in fully recovering from childbirth.

“During their office visits, my colleagues and I make a point to discuss the risks and complications patients could experience after delivery and in the first year,” said Dr. Jennifer Esses, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with Santa Rosa Medical Group. “I believe these bracelets and the community awareness of what they mean, could be life-saving for mothers.”

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