• Author
    Ryan Clarke
  • Discovery PI

    Aparna Sridhar, MD

  • Project Co-Author

    Marissa Millwater, BS, Lauren Groves, MPH, Diana Ramos, MD, MBA, MPH,

  • Abstract Title

    Bridging the Discharge Gap: A Patient-Initiated Digital Delivery Summary to Support Postpartum Care Continuity in Collaboration with the California Surgeon General

  • Discovery AOC Petal or Dual Degree Program

    Basic, Clinical, & Translational Research

  • Abstract

    Purpose

    The postpartum period represents a critical but often fragmented transition in care. Patients discharged from labor and delivery frequently lack portable, standardized records of their obstetric course, records essential for timely re-establishment with primary care, accurate risk counseling, and management at the intake of a subsequent pregnancy. This gap is especially pronounced among underserved populations with disrupted follow-up. We developed and evaluated a secure, web-based platform enabling postpartum patients to self-generate a structured Delivery Summary independent of electronic health record access.

    Methods

    A patient-centered web platform was designed for postpartum patients to self-enter key obstetric and medical data through an intuitive, mobile-optimized interface. Clinical content domains were informed by obstetric physician input alongside standard prenatal intake frameworks. Following IRB approval, postpartum patients at a large academic medical center completed the platform on personal devices and received a downloadable Delivery Summary. Usability was assessed using the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), evaluating engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality on a 1–5 scale.

    Results

    Preliminary data from 33 postpartum patients demonstrated strong platform performance. Functionality scored 4.08/5 overall; ease of learning and use was rated 4.22 ± 0.89 and correct performance without crashes rated 3.97 ± 1.05. Information quality scored high at 3.94/5, with credibility (4.20 ± 0.98) and goal clarity (4.23 ± 0.67) rated highest. Navigation intuitiveness scored 3.78 ± 1.14, identified as a priority for iterative refinement. Aesthetics scored 3.81/5 with layout clarity rated 4.06 ± 0.93. Patients reported strong willingness-to-recommend (3.81 ± 1.09 out of 5). Enrollment continues toward a target of 100 participants for full criterion validity assessment.

    Conclusions

    A patient-initiated digital Delivery Summary is feasible, functional, and highly regarded by postpartum patients, particularly for information quality and credibility. Developed in collaboration with the Office of the California Surgeon General, this EHR-independent platform empowers patients to carry and share their delivery records across care settings, directly addressing the handoff gap at discharge. The Delivery Summary supports two distinct downstream transitions: re-establishment with primary care and intake for subsequent pregnancy. By standardizing what patients take home, this tool has the potential to improve postpartum care coordination, reduce preventable readmissions, and support equity in postpartum follow-up.

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