Pender Community Hospital Partners with NPQIC to Launch Life-Saving Postpartum Alert Initiative
Pender, Neb. (August 4, 2025) – Pender Community Hospital (PCH) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC) to implement the Postpartum Alert: A Life-Saving Maternal Safety Initiative throughout our facility. This program is designed to reduce maternal mortality and improve postpartum care for patients across Nebraska.
The Postpartum Alert initiative introduces a simple yet powerful visual system: teal wristbands worn by postpartum patients during the critical six-week period following delivery. These wristbands serve as an immediate signal to healthcare providers, ensuring timely recognition and response to potential life-threatening complications.
“The Postpartum Alert is a vital step forward in improving maternal safety across Nebraska,” said Shannan Johnson, RN, PCH OB Coordinator and NPQIC Board Member. “NPQIC is committed to implementing evidence-based practices that save lives, and this initiative empowers both patients and providers to act quickly when warning signs arise. By increasing awareness and standardizing care, we’re working toward a future where every Nebraska mother receives the safest possible postpartum care.”
Nebraska currently ranks 17th in maternal mortality nationwide, underscoring the urgent need for initiatives like Postpartum Alert. With maternal mortality rates in the U.S. three times higher than in other developed nations, this program addresses a critical gap in postpartum care.
“At PCH, caring for our moms and babies is truly at the heart of what we do,” said Bethany Sedivy, RN, OB Coordinator for PCH. “The Postpartum Alert is another meaningful way we can look out for our patients during those first few weeks after delivery. It helps our entire care team stay in sync and respond quickly if something doesn’t feel right. We’re proud to bring this extra layer of support to our families—it’s all about keeping them safe, healthy, and cared for.”
Patients are encouraged to wear the teal wristband for six weeks after delivery, attend all follow-up appointments, take prescribed medications, and seek immediate care if they experience warning signs such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, or severe bleeding.
To learn more about the Postpartum Alert initiative and how it’s transforming maternal health across Nebraska, visit NPQIC.org.
Together, we can save lives and create a safer future for Nebraska mothers and their families.
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About Pender Community Hospital District
Pender Community Hospital (PCH) has been providing quality healthcare in northeast Nebraska since 1913. The 21-bed critical access hospital (CAH) is recognized with a 5-Star Rating from the National Rural Rating System (NRRS). PCH comprises not only the hospital but four rural health clinics and three pharmacies, as well as Prairie Breeze Assisted Living and Little Sprouts Child Development Center. For more information, visit pchne.org