Making a Digital Connection: Empowering and Engaging Patients During Their Pregnancy Journey

Background: The use of technology is one way to engage patients in their health management. UW Health implemented MyChart Care Companion to provide a digital connection to empower patients in their pregnancy journey.

Purpose: MyChart Care Companion aims to empower pregnant patients by providing digital support. By combining written clinical information with digital resources through MyChart, patients reinforce healthcare knowledge and behaviors. Increased patient confidence reduces the need for frequent calls and messages to the care team, allowing them to focus on urgent needs.

Method: UW Health implemented MyChart Care Companion with patients in their healthy pregnancy journey. A multi-disciplinary workgroup reviewed education content to provide a customized patient experience. The education topics selected focused on the most common pregnancy questions or concerns. Selected content reflected health literacy standards and was inclusive of body types, race, and ethnicity.

Prior to implementation, providers and staff learned about MyChart Care Companion. Flyers posted in clinic rooms included information about enrollment for patients. Those who enrolled were able to ask questions and care teams could monitor the patient’s engagement and review any questions in their clinic appointments.

Results: Adoption of MyChart Care Companion was quick, with 163 enrollees within two days and 836 within five months.

Conclusions: Both clinicians and patients embraced the use of digital engagement in pregnancy care. Selecting relevant and engaging content was time-consuming but essential for relevant, engaging, and effective patient education.

Next Steps: Evaluate the impact of MyChart Care Companion on patient call volume. Expand its use to at-risk pregnant patients and explore applications for those with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and epilepsy.