Ochsner Health has been named a finalist in the HHS Hypertension Innovator Award Competition, recognizing its Ochsner Connected Maternity Online Monitoring (MOM) program. The national competition, hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health, honors innovative initiatives that enhance monitoring and follow-up care for women with hypertension during pregnancy and postpartum.
Ochsner Connected MOM empowers expecting mothers to manage their pregnancies from home by digitally sending blood pressure readings to their medical team, facilitating continuous health monitoring between medical visits.
“We are honored to receive the HHS Office on Women’s Health Innovator Award for our Connected MOM program,” said Dr. Veronica Gillispie Bell, senior site lead for women’s services at Ochsner Health Kenner and director of quality for Women’s Services for Ochsner Health. “Telehealth has been transformative, enabling us to deliver care to patients and eliminate many barriers that mothers face in accessing essential healthcare. This recognition will expand the program’s reach, ensuring more mothers benefit from comprehensive, compassionate, and convenient care.”
The HHS competition assessed Ochsner Connected MOM’s effectiveness in enhancing blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy and postpartum, particularly for Black patients and those in rural areas. The program demonstrated a statistically significant increase in blood pressure measurements among patients during pregnancy and postpartum. Currently, more than 100 Ochsner providers in Louisiana use the Connected MOM platform, which served over 2,000 patients last year.
“As a leading healthcare provider for pregnant patients in Louisiana, Ochsner is committed to pioneering solutions to reduce maternal and perinatal health disparities,” said Dr. Joseph Biggio, system chair for Women’s Services and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Ochsner. “This award will accelerate the expansion and enhancement of the Connected MOM program, enabling us to reach more patients and improve care across a broader population.”
“By recognizing innovative programs that tackle hypertension during pregnancy and maternal health disparities, we reaffirm our dedication to nationwide maternal health excellence and equity,” said Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, assistant secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Community-tailored solutions that increase access to comprehensive maternal healthcare are essential for achieving health equity.”
For more information on the Connected MOM program, visit Ochsner Health’s website.