Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center Joins NPQIC’s Postpartum Alert Initiative

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Starting Aug. 4, mothers who give birth at Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center will receive a teal wristband as part of the Postpartum Alert Initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to reduce maternal mortality and improve postpartum care across the state.

The wristbands are part of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative’s (NPQIC) initiative to help postpartum mothers during the critical six-week period after delivery. Patients are encouraged to wear their bands as they attend all follow-up appointments, take prescribed medications, and seek immediate care if warning signs arise. These bands alert physicians and providers that their patient is postpartum, helping them recognize the need for timely responses to potentially life-threatening complications. Patients also receive education and quick references for postpartum alert warning signs, including a post-discharge symptom tracker.

According to the NPQIC, Nebraska has the 17th highest rate of maternal mortality nationwide. Emergency warning signs can include chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, uncontrollable bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm or harming others. Symptoms including severe headaches, dizziness, heavy bleeding, swollen or painful legs, persistent fever, fatigue, or high blood pressure readings are also causes for concern and require immediate contact with a healthcare provider.

Birth and Infant Care Center & Pediatrics Director Kynzie Lentfer, BSN, RN, CLC, said this program provides not only an important visual cue for healthcare providers, but a potentially lifesaving opportunity for women in the panhandle.

“We are proud to be participating the in the Postpartum Alert initiative through NPQIC. This initiative allows us to shine a light on how crucial the immediate postpartum period can be in getting our moms great care as quickly as possible. I am also looking forward to the collaboration with our region’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and our local healthcare providers,” she said. “This initiative truly has the potential to save lives.”

For more information about this program, please call the Birth and Infant Care Center at 308-630-1550.

About Regional West

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Nebraska is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. Since 1924, Regional West has served the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming through innovative healthcare services. As the region’s sole tertiary medical center, Regional West offers an expansive array of medical specialties and numerous physician clinics.