An ehealth application for the management of obstetric care.

Introduction: Integral obstetric care is currently being implemented in the Netherlands in various models of care. In the Netherlands pregnant women are primarily cared for by midwifes and depending on the obstetrical healthcare plan of the women the gynecologist has a larger or smaller involvement. Short description of practice change implemented: We developed an eHealth application to manage obstetrical healthcare plans based on local protocols. Targeted population and stakeholders: All women participating community and hospital based obstetrical healthcare can make use of this application, to facilitate coordinated protocolized care by multiple professionals and to empower patients to be a partner in deciding on and carrying out their healthcare plan. Aim: The aim of the app is to provide patients and health care providers assistance in administering obstetrical healthcare management plans based on over 50 regional protocols developed by a collaborative of primary and secondary obstetrical caregivers. The app offers an overview for patients and their health care providers. Specific individualized patient information is offered at an appropriate time in pregnancy, allowing patients to access information independently from health care visits. Moreover, healthcare providers receive reminders of appropriate steps in health management plans and have access to actions that previous providers have already discussed or completed. Thereby, the app enhances transfer of complete and up-to-date interdisciplinary patient information, resulting in improved situational awareness and the flexibility to adapt the individuals' healthcare plan accordingly during the pregnancy. Timeline & highlights: The application was implemented in the region Kennemerland in the Netherlands yearly 3000 pregnancies in October 2017. In the third quarter of 2017 we assessed patient and health care provider healthcare satisfaction with a questionnaire on paper. In February and March 2018 we will assess the usability of the app using patient focus groups. Furthermore, we will determine whether the eHealth application has improved the healthcare provider satisfaction and communication. Patient satisfaction cannot yet be reported since as only few women will have completed the full 9-month trajectory of the app. Results will be presented at the congress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]