Remote Monitoring Targets US Maternal Care Gap in Rural Areas

Most US pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, yet many still happen after patients leave the hospital. According to Becker's Hospital Review, CDC data show more than 80% of these deaths are preventable and 53% occur between one week and one year after delivery, a window when new mothers have little regular contact with care teams.

Risk also builds during pregnancy itself. Hypertension and diabetes can progress quietly in the weeks between prenatal visits, and the problem is sharper in rural areas where specialists and hospitals are scarce or far away. The long stretches between appointments leave dangerous changes undetected.

To close that gap, health systems are turning to remote patient monitoring and care management, Becker's reports. Connected devices track blood pressure and blood sugar at home, and care managers follow up on warning signs between visits. The approach extends clinical oversight across distance, aiming to catch complications early and reduce preventable deaths among patients who would otherwise be out of reach.