In January, our Better Birth Outcomes – Comprehensive (BBO‑C) team had the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the life of a young mother that may have prevented a serious medical emergency.
The mom, one of Greater Family Health’s OB patients who had delivered her daughter in September, came to the clinic for her baby’s 4‑month pediatric appointment. There, she was connected with one of BBO-C’s Nurse Care Navigators.
During the routine nursing assessment, the mother shared that she had been experiencing occasional blurry vision, chest pain, and headaches. Concerned, the Nurse checked her blood pressure which came out in the 180s/100s, a dangerously high level.
The patient then revealed that she had stopped taking her prescribed blood pressure medication, Procardia XL, shortly after her postpartum visit in October. She had simply run out and wasn’t sure whether she was supposed to continue it.
The BBO-C Nurse immediately recommended that she go to the emergency department and stressed the importance of establishing care with a primary care provider to manage her blood pressure long‑term. The patient went to the ED later that same evening.
Her blood pressure there measured 187/87. She was restarted on Procardia and instructed to follow up with a PCP to help control her high blood pressure and prevent severe complications in the future.
Thanks to the BBO‑C assessment that day, and the patient’s willingness to act quickly, a potentially life‑threatening situation was identified and addressed.
This story is one of many since the BBO-C program began last year. It is meant to catch the mothers who too often fall through the cracks, ensuring they receive the care, compassion, and safety they deserve.
