The Center for Connected Health at Partners HealthCare System in Boston has received a $25,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to expand a text-messaging pilot program for high-risk pregnant women. The money will allow the center to study the feasibility and efficacy of text messaging to encourage prenatal care among a group of patients who otherwise are unlikely to receive proper prenatal and immediate postnatal support.
"This funding will enable us to expand this innovative text messaging program to a larger patient population of at-risk pregnant women," Center for Connected Health Director Dr. Joseph Kvedar said at the organization's Connected Health Symposium last week. "The Center has been exploring the benefits of text messaging and we are excited about the possibilities that text messaging offers in helping patients stay engaged in their care," he added.
The texting pilot is part of a study of how motivational support and direct education can encourage ongoing prenatal care.
For further details:
- read this Center for Connected Health press release