An Evaluation of Referral and Follow-Up Care for Postpartum Home Visitation Recipients

Abstract

A collaborative partnership was developed with a local Health Department, specifically the Postpartum Home Visitation (PPHV) program in the county and a senior nursing student at East Carolina University College of Nursing. The goal of the county PPHV program is to assess both mother and infant within two weeks following delivery. Public health nurses complete assessments and make referrals to essential community resources during this visit. Postpartum home visits often result in referrals to health department services or other community resources. Public health nurses, social workers, case managers and interpreters work together on referral and follow-up. There was no current comprehensive tracking system to monitor client progression through the referral and follow-up process. Therefore, the overall goal of this project was to evaluate the referral and follow-up process to community resources for the recipients of the PPHV program.