Why it matters: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy aren’t just a nine-month issue. They’re early warning signs for long-term cardiovascular risk. But too many women lose care continuity after delivery.
What’s happening: Intermountain Health has developed a care transition model that guides blood pressure follow-up from delivery through the first postpartum year.
The big picture: “We’ve got a unique opportunity to identify disease markers during pregnancy,” says Dr. Donna Dizon-Townson, maternal-fetal medicine physician at Intermountain Health.
- Pregnant women are highly motivated to engage with care providers, creating an opportunity to catch disease markers early
- The model includes structured checkpoints: immediately after delivery, one week, 4 to 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum
- It’s designed to help both patients and providers navigate the critical transition from pregnant to postpartum state
Between the lines: The first year postpartum is especially vulnerable. Without clear follow-up protocols, women with pregnancy-related hypertension often fall out of the care continuum.
The bottom line: “Once you’re diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, you have to follow up after pregnancy,” says Dr. Dizon-Townson.
What’s next: This model aims to close care gaps and turn pregnancy into a long-term prevention opportunity for cardiovascular health.