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When Karissa Yoakum (pictured above with her family) found out she was pregnant with her third child, she and her husband were excited.
“We’ve always wanted to add a third child to our family,” Yoakum said.
Yoakum was also nervous. She was 2 months away from opening her new hair salon. She worried about finding time for prenatal appointments — and bringing her 2 young children along.
Then, her ob-gyn, Emily West, MD, told her about an option that would let her do some of her prenatal visits by video.
“I was instantly interested because of my busy lifestyle and knowing that I could actually save some time,” Yoakum said.
Easier access to high-quality care
To support the video visits, Yoakum received an at-home toolkit. The kit included a fetal heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and a scale.
Ob-gyn Emily West, MD, talks with Kaiser Permanente member Karissa Yoakum during a prenatal video appointment.
The blood pressure monitor and scale paired with an app on Yoakum’s phone. The app sent readings to her care team via her electronic health record.
Members who choose this care option still get in-person care during their pregnancies. They also go in for procedures like lab tests, vaccinations, and ultrasounds.
Members can ask that a video visit be changed to an in-person appointment at any time. They can also decide they want to have all their appointments in person.
Dr. West says her patients like taking a more active role in their care.
“If they aren’t feeling well or have a headache, they can check their blood pressure without having to make a trip to my office,” she said.
Yoakum is now the mom of a healthy baby girl. She’s grateful for the flexibility that video appointments provided.
“Every hour is so precious. I want to make sure I am spending it the best way possible,” she said.
Yoakum and her newborn, Liya
Maternity care with our at-home toolkit is available at select Kaiser Permanente medical centers in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Talk with your clinician if you’re a Kaiser Permanente member and want to learn more.
Learn more about maternity care at Kaiser Permanente.