Those dreaded 4 AM wake-ups to hug the toilet as a “reward” for creating new life are far more than just a rough start to the day for some. For those dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), it’s not just morning sickness, it’s a serious medical condition that can take a massive toll on both women and the healthcare system.
Women with HG suffer from relentless vomiting, dehydration, and malnutrition, often ending up in the hospital. The financial cost of HG to the healthcare system is staggering, surpassing $3 billion every year, yet many women still don’t get the care they need.
HG pushes healthcare systems to their limits. Doctors struggle to manage a condition with no cure or clear treatment, while women endure repeated hospital visits for inadequate and temporary relief. The physical, emotional, and financial burdens are overwhelming; there has never been a greater need for better understanding and treatment of this condition, which affects millions across the country.
Costs are Increasing
The financial toll of HG is on an uptrend, both for healthcare systems and the women affected. Emergency room visits for HG have shot up by 65%, with hospitalizations for HG costing nearly $500 million each year, and emergency room visits adding another $2.5 billion. Pregnancies complicated by HG now average more than double the cost of a typical pregnancy, rising from $7,499 without HG to a staggering $17,938.
Moving Beyond Hospitalization
The current approach to treating HG often relies on reactive care, with many women only receiving help once their condition is severe enough to require hospitalization. IV fluids and antiemetics are commonly used in hospitals, but by that point, the suffering has been endured to the point where many women have considered termination and some even suicide. Women are then discharged without a plan or medication to manage their symptoms from home and frequently end up back in the ER.
For women with HG, repeated trips to the emergency department for IV fluids and medications are emotionally and physically exhausting. These constant hospital visits, with average emergency department waiting times of two hours forty minutes, disrupt their lives, adding stress to an already overwhelming experience.
Harmonia advocates for a different approach; one that focuses on outpatient care and timely intervention. Collaborating with emergency medicine physicians and maternal care nurses to offer a specialized treatment center, Harmonia alleviates the burden of calls and visits to OBGYNS, manages prescription refills, and keeps providers informed of patient progress.
Instead of waiting until hospitalization is the only option, Harmonia provides IV fluids, antiemetics, vitamin infusions, electrolyte replacement and medication management from the comfort of a dedicated clinic. Women get the tailored care they need when they need it, together with compassionate care, nutritional guidance and education as to how to manage their symptoms.
By reducing ER visits and hospitalization, Harmonia’s care not only helps to reduce the cost of HG to the healthcare system, but improves the overall experience for patients, ensuring they receive attention and support long before their condition becomes unbearable, and their condition poses greater risk to their health and that of their baby.