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OB Hypertension Sprint: Enhancing Prevention & Identification- Successful Completion & Ongoing Initiatives

For more information, please contact ella.rusnacko@minnesotaperinatal.org

The Blue Band Project: A Milestone Achievement 

One of the pivotal outcomes of this sprint was the Blue Band Project, which significantly improves the recognition of unique risks for individuals with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (such as eclampsia, severe hypertension, and stroke). The bands serve as a proactive measure to alert healthcare providers and facilitate prompt intervention and support. We are proud to announce that nine hospital teams will be implementing Blue Bands in their facilities, with MNPQC continuing to work with and support them through this implementation process. Facilities interested in adopting this initiative can reach out for assistance to ensure standardized and effective utilization across different settings.

Blue Band Facilities:
  • Lakeview Hospital
  • Hudson Hospital
  • Lakewood Health 
  • Northfield Hospital 
  • Aspirus St. Luke’s Duluth
  • Ridgeview Medical Center
  • Sleepy Eye Medical Center
  • Essentia Health Brainerd
  • Alomere Health Alexandria

Promoting Low-Dose Aspirin for HDP Prevention

Another vital component of this sprint was promoting the safe use of low-dose aspirin as a preventive measure for HDP. By disseminating evidence-based guidelines and best practices, we increased healthcare providers’ awareness of the benefits and appropriate use of low-dose aspirin. Encouraging adherence to these guidelines will improve patient outcomes, streamline patient management pathways, and enhance the overall quality of care. 

Ongoing Support and Future Initiatives 

This project also provided collaborative networking opportunities with other healthcare providers, public health professionals, and emergency departments. By fostering partnerships and sharing best practices, we collectively worked towards addressing the challenges associated with obstetric hypertension on a broader scale. 

As we prepare for another hypertension initiative rollout, we invite all interested parties to participate. Whether you’re a hospital staff member, clinic staff, community organizations, public health professionals, or involved in home care visits, our upcoming initiatives are tailored for you! Engage with experts and peers to exchange insights, best practices, and innovative solutions to enhance preventive measures and optimize outcomes.

Don’t miss out on our upcoming opportunities! If your facility is interested in joining the Blue Band Project or other future rollouts, please contact us for more information and support. 


Blue Band Project

To identify gaps across systems providing care on maternal HTN and reach our communities across urban and rural regions, the MNPQC is introducing The Blue Band Project: an innovative system approach to implement across the continuum of care, including clinics, hospitals, homecare and community.

In July of 2022 MNPQC concluded the first phase of a statewide quality improvement initiative to improve the identification, treatment, and follow up of hypertension in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Participating teams increased the percentage of birthing people with severe hypertension who were treated within 60 minutes from 55% to 71%. The shift in the data seen on the Shewhart chart above represents a relative improvement of 30% and demonstrates the change ideas implemented by our teams created an impactful improvement.