594
Views
4
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

High-risk obstetrical call center: a model for regions with limited access to care

, , , , &
Pages 857-865 | Received 17 Oct 2016, Accepted 24 Feb 2017, Published online: 19 Mar 2017
 

Abstract

Purpose: High-risk obstetrical care can be challenging for women in rural states with limited access.

Materials and methods: Data were evaluated from 62,342 obstetrical calls from pregnant and postpartum patients within rural Arkansas to a nurse call center. Call center nurses provided triage using evidence-based guidelines to patients across the state. Data were extracted and analyzed using retrospective data collection and descriptive statistical methods.

Results: Women had an average maternal age of 28 years old, average weeks gestation was 27.4, over half had Medicaid 32,513 (52.15%), and the greatest percentage were in their first pregnancy 14,232 (34.1%). The greatest percentage of calls resulted in a recommendation to come to the hospital to be evaluated 25,894 (41.54%) followed by advice with no prescription given 19,442 (31.19%). The most frequent guidelines used included preterm labor 5114 (8.24%) followed by abdominal pain >20 weeks 4,518 (7.28%).

Conclusions: A centralized obstetrical nurse call center model, including 24/7 availability, using triage software for obstetrical care, with experienced labor and delivery nurses to answer and respond to calls and secondary triage performed by OB/GYN physicians or Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) has the potential of improving access to obstetric care in rural areas.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Tina Benton, Oversight Director for ANGELS, the ANGELS Call Center Nurses for data gathering, and Beth Fogelman for data gathering and reviewing the manuscript; Rachel Ott and David Fletcher for reviewing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The ANGELS call center is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a contract.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.