Photo Credit: Eric Gay/ AP NEWS
A study from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences finds many Arkansas emergency rooms are not fully prepared to handle pregnancy related emergencies, even though they see these cases often.
UAMS researchers surveyed managers at 51 emergency departments statewide. In the past year, 43% reported a birth in the emergency room, 71% handled emergency transfers of pregnant or recently pregnant patients, and nearly half reported an unexpected serious maternal complication.
Despite this, the study found key gaps. Only 31% of emergency departments require pregnancy status to be documented in electronic medical records, and nearly half have no way to record whether a patient recently gave birth. Fewer than half provided obstetric emergency training in the past two years.
“These numbers reinforce that every emergency department in the state whether or not it has labor and delivery services must be prepared to manage obstetric emergencies,” said Jennifer Callaghan-Koru, executive director of the Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
The issue is especially critical in rural areas, where more than 60% of Arkansas counties lack obstetric services. Researchers say uneven preparedness may contribute to the state’s high maternal mortality rate.
UAMS is addressing the problem through training programs led by Dr. Luann Racher, who works with emergency departments and emergency medical services statewide.
“We are preparing emergency department staff to manage complications like pregnancy related high blood pressure emergencies, sudden births and postpartum hemorrhage,” Racher said.
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