Rehabilitation Strategies to Address Postpartum Health Disparities
Gain critical insights and tools for addressing maternal health disparities and improving postpartum rehabilitation outcomes through evidence-based strategies and bias recognition.
This session explores the crucial role of acute care rehabilitation in addressing maternal health disparities in postpartum patients. Many individuals with high-risk pregnancies or who have recently given birth are not provided access to acute care physical therapy during their hospital stays, despite the first six weeks postpartum posing a high risk for health crises, including maternal mortality. Leading causes of death shortly after birth—hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and infection—are often preventable, yet the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with Black women experiencing nearly three times the rate of maternal death compared to White women. Implicit biases and systemic barriers contribute to substandard care, particularly for those perceived as young, healthy, and independent.
This session will explore the underlying factors of these disparities and provide evidence-based strategies to improve access to care. Attendees will learn about the Acute Care OB Rehab Implicit Bias Self-Reflection Tool to help clinicians recognize and address biases and the implementation of standardized screening tools for the postpartum population to detect complications early and improve outcomes. This session is designed for pelvic floor physical therapists dedicated to reducing maternal morbidity and promoting equitable healthcare.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze the key factors contributing to maternal health disparities in the postpartum period.
- Evaluate the role of acute care rehabilitation in enhancing maternal health outcomes.
- Apply the Acute Care OB Rehab Implicit Bias Self-Reflection Tool to recognize and address personal biases in clinical practice.
About the Speaker
Dr. Becky Parr, PT, DPT, DHSc, CAPP-OB, Cert. DN.
Dr. Parr graduated from the University of Dayton in 2011, with her DPT and from the University of Indianapolis in 2021 with her Doctor of Health Science (DHSc). She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, has a Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health, and is Certified in Dry Needling. Dr. Parr is a core faculty member at Hanover College’s hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) program.
Service is also important to Dr. Parr, and she is actively engaged as a member of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association DEI committee, is a delegate for the House of Delegates, and incoming Director at Large for the Academy of Pelvic Health.
Dr. Parr owns a private practice (Resilience Physical Therapy, Dayton, OH) specializing in the care of pregnant and postpartum patients and has several published articles in the pelvic health field. She is passionate about bringing awareness to women’s health, especially in the peripartum population.