871: Hypertension in Prenatal Care, Newscast Award

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, March 26, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MARIA GABRIELA RUIZ: 

So, the idea is to get some good background knowledge on how chronic disease and perinatal hypertension are interwoven, and what are some strategies that state health officials can take and what are some great state successes.

JOHNSON: 

A new ASTHO brief outlines ways to address perinatal hypertension. Maria Gabriela Ruiz is a part of ASTHO's maternal and infant health team. She wrote the resource about using pregnancy as an opportunity to improve family and community health.

RUIZ: 

So, babies born to mothers with hypertension face higher risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life, creating an intergenerational cycle of chronic disease. This is why early intervention, proper postpartum follow-up, and continuity of care are critical.

JOHNSON: 

Ruiz explains that addressing chronic disease during prenatal care can have a lifelong positive impact for both mother and baby.

RUIZ: 

By integrating universal screening for hypertension and other risk factors early in pregnancy, individuals at risk can be identified and healthcare providers can intervene before complications arise.

JOHNSON: 

Ruiz adds that public health can work toward programmatic and policy initiatives to support pregnant women and families throughout the life cycle.

RUIZ: 

So, a good example is the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative launched a Severe Maternal Hypertension Initiative in 2016. So, this initiative works with over 100 hospitals to ensure timely treatment of hypertension. They actually ensure within one hour of onset of severe hypertension that patients are going to receive care. They also educate patients, help schedule postpartum follow-ups, and debrief clinicians, too, and- to reduce maternal morbidity. And they have a bunch of different programs as well in this space.

JOHNSON: 

The brief is online now. You can use the link in the show notes to find it.

The Pacific Island Preparedness Emergency Response Summit, also known as the PIPER Summit, is a bi-annual Pacific Islands regional meeting for public health and hospital preparedness and response. Warren Villagomez is the public health and hospital emergency preparedness director in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. His team recently hosted this year's PIPER Summit.

WARREN VILLAGOMEZ: 

We initiated the idea about 15-18, years ago, you know, with the mindset of bringing the Pacific Islands together at one setting, with federal partners, as well as local jurisdictional partners that we have, to expand and bridge gaps that are challenging in the Pacific region. As well as building capacity amongst each other considering our geographic area that is so far away from CONOS US.

JOHNSON: 

Gomez talks about the unique discussions that take place at the PIPER Summit.

VILLAGOMEZ: 

So, the theme for this year is 'Figo Pacifico,' meaning robust strength Pacific, and resilient Pacific. So, that theme kind of wraps around all the challenges and hardship that we go through on the day to day here in the Pacific, from medical countermeasures being prepared with what's evolving around our Pacific region, such as nuclear disaster, emerging infectious diseases, as well as severe weather, typhoons.

JOHNSON: 

He goes on to say, the tabletop exercises and real-world application are a real value.

VILLAGOMEZ: 

So, these are the things that were on the agenda, as well as exercising and, you know, playing mock-up games during the meetings to enhance everyone that are in the field of public health as well as emergency personnel.

JOHNSON: 

There are lessons to be learned for all in preparedness. Find a link in the show notes if you'd like to learn more.

Finally, today, we get to report that this newscast is the best of the best. But you knew that already. Public Health Review Morning Edition has been awarded the number five spot on the Top 100 Public Health Podcasts of 2025 list. We're honored that you have trusted us with your morning public health news for the past three and a half years, and 871 episodes. There's a link to the list in the show notes, if you want to check that out.

Just like every weekday morning, we'll be right here again early tomorrow with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the multiple award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.