PumpReady – Seamless Breastfeeding Support

A workflow innovation to ensure timely delivery of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and pre-scheduled home health visits for orthopedic surgery patients, reducing discharge delays and preventing increased costs.

PumpReady – Breast Pump Accessibility Initiative

Role: Program Manager - Allegheny Health Network Care Management and Transitional Care Module

In an effort to improve breastfeeding care and support new mothers, I led a project within a health network aimed at enhancing access to breast pumps by aligning with the Keystone 10 initiative and the Fourth Trimester initiative. These initiatives focused on increasing breastfeeding rates and ensuring the health and well-being of mothers during the 12 weeks after birth, known as the "fourth trimester."

Key Innovations:

Interactive Prenatal Questionnaire: To proactively identify mothers who intended to breastfeed, I developed an interactive questionnaire to be filled out during prenatal appointments with OB or OB nurse teams. This was integrated into the system to ensure that mothers who desired to breastfeed had their needs addressed from the start of their pregnancy journey.
Automated Breast Pump Authorization Process: The data collected through the questionnaire triggered a streamlined authorization process for the breast pump. This allowed for automatic order generation for the breast pump as soon as the mother entered the hospital system for delivery.
24-Hour Pump Delivery to Room: The streamlined process ensured that breast pumps were delivered directly to the mother's hospital room within 24 hours of delivery, providing immediate access to the necessary equipment. Lactation specialists were then able to provide on-site training and support for new mothers, reducing the delay and challenges often associated with post-delivery pump delivery, which typically takes 3-10 days.

Impact:

Improved Access to Breastfeeding Support: By having the pump available within 24 hours of delivery, new mothers were able to begin breastfeeding immediately, improving their milk supply and overall breastfeeding success.
Cost and Time Efficiency: The automated process reduced delays in pump delivery, minimized out-of-pocket expenses for mothers, and improved the overall experience for both patients and healthcare providers.
Support for Public Health Goals: This initiative supported the state's Keystone 10 initiative and the health system’s broader focus on improving breastfeeding rates and maternal health during the critical postpartum period.