Evaluation of a Health System Integrated Model for Postpartum Education and Support in Rural Populations - NEST-Rural

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Nurse Education and Support Team (NEST) Program for postpartum women living in five rural counties in North Carolina. This randomized control trial compares the NEST-Rural care model to usual postpartum care to see if mothers and infants receive more coordinated care, experience fewer hospital readmissions and emergency visits, and have better adherence to recommended postpartum and infant care guidelines. The study enrolls about 1,300 mother-infant pairs who deliver at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Birth Center. Participants are randomly assigned to either the NEST-Rural group or usual care. The NEST-Rural program includes 3-5 nurse visits, remote blood pressure monitoring using a device connected to a smartphone app, breastfeeding support, infant weight checks, social work visits if needed, and coordination with healthcare providers. Usual care includes standard postpartum visits and a follow-up call. During the study, participants will have nurse or social worker visits at home or via telehealth, remote monitoring of maternal blood pressure, and follow-up phone calls. Researchers will track hospital readmissions, emergency care visits, attendance at postpartum and infant well-child visits, breastfeeding rates, and immunizations. Safety and healthcare utilization will be monitored over periods ranging from 21 days to two years postpartum, with data collected through medical records and nurse reports.

Evaluation of a Health System Integrated Model for Postpartum Education and Support in Rural Populations