The Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) and the Missouri Maternal-Child Learning and Action Network are pleased to announce funding from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services COVID-19 Statewide Health Disparities Initiative Grant to support The Cuff Kit™ Project through the Preeclampsia Foundation (PF). The Cuff Kit™ Project allows for distribution of blood pressure (BP) cuff kits to vulnerable maternal patients at high-risk for or diagnosed with blood pressure-related issues.
If you want to apply for the project, please refer to the application. Completion of this application is due by 5 pm, Tuesday, October 25. Recipients will be notified by mid-November. If your facility does not receive kits through this lottery drawing, you will receive a courtesy email and will be prioritized for any future distribution cycle.
To apply, organizations must be able to meet the following criteria:
- Have the ability to utilize some form of telehealth capabilities to communicate with participating patients and closely monitor blood pressures (BP) through cuff kit usage (text messages, phone calls and video chats are examples, along with more sophisticated telehealth technologies)
- Provide patient with the entire Cuff Kit™ package and educate on the contents and accurate BP monitoring.
- Prioritize distribution to those at highest risk, especially vulnerable women with a lower ability to procure their own BP cuff. The Cuff Kit™ Project is primarily for maternal health providers serving at risk patients throughout the state of Missouri.
- At-risk and vulnerable women are defined as those with chronic hypertension, history of preeclampsia and/or eclampsia, obesity, advanced maternal age, autoimmune disorders and other medical diagnoses, as well as population-level risk factors such as race (Black, Native American) and/or rural location, and patients adversely impacted by social determinants of health (SDOH).
- Provider recipients will be required to submit a brief data set for each patient who receives a Cuff Kit, including basic demographic information, SDOH factors, and pregnancy outcome(s). This survey will help assess initiative impact. Providers will also need to encourage patient feedback submission through an enclosed postage-paid postcard. Commitment to data reporting is critical and required for program success.
MHA and the Missouri Maternal-Child Learning and Action Network are excited to offer this additional avenue to assist you in monitoring maternal patients at high-risk for or diagnosed with BP-related issues. FAQs are also available.