(Providence, RI) – Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England hospital, announces a strategic five-year partnership with UTMHealthcare to advance the Rhode Island-Statewide Postpartum HypErtension REmote Surveillance (RI-SPHERES) project.
Since November of 2022, the Hypertension Equity Program at Women & Infants Hospital has been helping to reduce maternal morbidity and hospital readmissions related to postpartum hypertension overall and improve health equity among our patients with hypertension. The program provides patients with blood pressure cuffs and the hospital’s team educates the patients on how to take their blood pressure at home.
Now, the Hypertension Equity Program is expanding statewide thanks to a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and this partnership with UTMHealthcare, a leading innovator in remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology. RI-SPHERES integrates UTMHealthcare’s secure, scalable RPM platform to enable remote blood pressure monitoring for postpartum patients, offering both app-based and app-less experiences. This flexibility allows participants to utilize Bluetooth-enabled or LTE-connected devices, ensuring accessibility for patients regardless of smartphone ownership or technical proficiency. By reducing barriers to participation, the program aims to empower patients and ensure timely interventions.
“Thanks to the Hypertension Equity Program, we have already successfully kept hundreds of patients out of postpartum clinics or Emergency Departments simply by giving them the tools to monitor their health at home,” said Methodius G. Tuuli, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital; Executive Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Care New England Health System. “By expanding this statewide, we will be able to further eliminate disparities in maternal health and reduce both short- and long-term complications for postpartum patients, creating a healthier future for families across the state.”
UTMHealthcare’s HIPAA-compliant RPM platform allows patients to self-monitor their blood pressure using Bluetooth or LTE devices that transmit data securely and seamlessly to care managers and clinicians. These tools provide real-time insights, enabling immediate interventions when necessary and facilitating referrals for long-term preventive care.
“Our collaboration with Care New England brings cutting-edge technology and compassionate care together to address this critical issue, supporting healthier outcomes for families across Rhode Island,” said Seth Lachterman, a partner and co-founder of UTMHealthcare and its parent company, YouThisMe.
Dr. Adam Lewkowitz, principal investigator for RI-SPHERES and Assistant Professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Women & Infants Hospital, highlighted the importance of this initiative. “By combining advanced remote monitoring technologies with a comprehensive care model, we can better address the unique challenges of postpartum hypertension,” said Dr. Lewkowitz. “This partnership allows us to provide personalized care to patients in their homes, breaking down barriers to access and improving health outcomes for some of our most vulnerable populations.”
Key objectives of the partnership include:
• Enhancing Maternal Health: Leveraging technology to deliver proactive care and address hypertension-related risks during the critical postpartum period.
• Eliminating Disparities: Expanding access to care for vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by postpartum hypertension.
• Scalable Implementation: Creating a model that can be replicated in other states, advancing the field of maternal health on a national scale.
The RI-SPHERES initiative builds on UTMHealthcare’s proven track record in chronic condition management and its commitment to improving outcomes through technology-driven, patient-centered solutions.
About Women & Infants Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. A major teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology, and newborn pediatrics, as well as a number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants is the ninth largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country and the largest in New England with approximately 8,700 deliveries per year. Women & Infants is a Designated Baby-Friendly® USA hospital and was recently ranked by Newsweek as one of America's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2024. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology ranked 11 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Medical Schools specialty ranking.
Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiography; a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology; and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high-risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology, and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network, and Pelvic Floors Disorders Network, as well as the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group
About UTMHealthcare
UTMHealthcare is a trusted provider of remote patient monitoring solutions, offering HIPAA-compliant platforms designed to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and simplify care delivery. For more information, visit www.utmhealthcare.com.
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