The Early Pregnancy Consortium, which is a group of health care providers, researchers and patients with lived experience, created a web-based patient education resource, www.pregnancyed.com.

Intended for patients experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy loss in the emergency department (ED), this patient-informed education resource is a critical first step towards improved maternal health outcomes.

ED patients with symptoms of pregnancy loss now receive postcards with QR codes directing them to the website, and posters are now in ED waiting areas with QR codes. After collaboration with the Women and Children’s Health Network (ON Central Region North), the patient education education printouts are now available in French and English.

This project received the 2022 Canadian Association of Emergency Physician’s Top Education Innovation Award, a media mention in The National Post, and was described in an accepted publication in CJEM.

Our project funded by the MSH-UHN Innovation Fund Grant created a web-based education platform for patients experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy complications and loss for use during and after their ED visit. In Ontario, our prior research has shown four in five people experiencing pregnancy loss will be cared from in the ED. This patient-informed education resource is a critical first step towards improved maternal health outcomes for this vulnerable population in the ED.

The project team successfully completed the following project objectives:
1. The project built capacity by establishing a consortium of patients, providers and researchers to conceptualize and co-design a web-based education platform for patients experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy loss.
2. The project team created a web-based educational platform www.pregnancyed.com which includes psychological supports, tools for symptom self-monitoring and instructions on when to return to the ED.
3. The project team solicited input and feedback from patients and providers following the launch of the platform.

This project has been a resounding success and has achieved the following outcomes:
1. Thirty EDs across Canada now provide patients with postcards directing patients with symptoms of early pregnancy loss to the website via a QR code and have the website and QR code on posters in their waiting areas.
2. Recognized as the 2022 Top Education Innovation at the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians National Scientific Meeting.
3. The website received national media attention in an article in The National Post published on July 6, 2022.
4. The project was also described in an accepted peer-reviewed article in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine.
5. The project helped establish a collaboration to develop web-based patient navigation resources for patients with early pregnancy loss.

Varner C, Leduc L, Pasquale J, Yee M, McLeod S, Morson N, Kaur J, Tunde-Byass M, Blakely K, Aditya I, Thomas J. Co-designing a web-based education platform for patients with early pregnancy loss. CJEM. 2022 Dec;24(8):805-808. doi: 10.1007/s43678-022-00384-z.