2024 SAEMF/RAMS Resident Research Grant - $4,045

"From Margins to Mainstream: Mapping Health Disparities in Obstetric Care in the Emergency Department"

The characteristics and prevalence of first-trimester pregnant patients who present to the emergency department (ED) for either their initial obstetric (OB) care visit or routine first-trimester OB care are undefined in the literature. In addition, an evaluation of the social determinants of health (SDoH) common to this group of patients, including barriers to accessing OB care, has yet to be performed or applied to this uniquely vulnerable population. With this project, we will characterize this sub-group of patients and visually depict patient-level characteristics within the context of their community environment and available resources. The results of our study can inform and improve ED outreach interventions performed by providers, nurses, case managers, or social workers, such as geographically specific discharge instructions for accessible primary OB care, informed routes of transportation to nearby primary OB care, and identification of OB/GYN “deserts” among our health system’s regional footprint.

Recipient

  • Pauline Wiltz, DO

    University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center

    "From Margins to Mainstream: Mapping Health Disparities in Obstetric Care in the Emergency Department"

    Dr. Wiltz is a second-year emergency medicine resident currently training at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Wiltz had a specific area of interest on reproductive health as a community educator during her time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua. This spurred her ongoing passion for advocacy surrounding reproductive rights in first trimester care in the emergency department. Her research is focused on using epidemiology and geospatial mapping technology to characterize first trimester pregnant patients presenting to the emergency department, including demographic, geographic characteristics, and social determinants of health. Her project aims to create a map reflecting the relationship between the patients characterized and OBGYN outpatient care locations throughout the greater Cleveland area in proximity to the emergency department.