Clinical Guides: ED Management of Early Pregnancy Loss
These resources from PHI’s Access Bridge are designed for Emergency Department (ED) physicians who are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of early pregnancy loss within the ED setting.
- Access Bridge
-
Focus Areas
Health Care & Population Health, Women, Youth & Children -
Issues
Reproductive & Sexual Health -
Programs
Bridge
Across the country, millions of women live in contraception and reproductive healthcare deserts. Lower-income patients and patients of color are disproportionately impacted, especially in states where there are primary care and OB-GYN provider shortages.
Emergency departments are uniquely positioned to be a safety net for sexual and reproductive health services: EDs are open 24/7, available in most communities and staffed by clinicians trained to manage multiple specialties. Many sexual and reproductive health needs can be met quickly and easily in these settings. And, in light of the alarming restrictions on reproductive rights, healthcare providers have a moral imperative to make legal reproductive health services widely available.
Access Bridge, a project of PHI’s Bridge, works to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services by integrating them into EDs.
Emergency Department Protocols for Management of Early Pregnancy Loss
These clinical resources from PHI’s Access Bridge are designed for Emergency Department (ED) physicians who are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of early pregnancy loss within the ED setting.
Access Bridge’s guidance on diagnosing and treating early pregnancy loss is the first of its kind for emergency providers. The variations in these protocols reflect how different political landscapes affect access to mifepristone—a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue.
These protocols were developed by a team of specialists in emergency medicine, family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, midwifery and nursing. These protocols are being tested in multiple states and will be updated periodically. They should never be used as a substitute for clinical judgment. Providers are responsible for assessing the unique circumstances and needs of each case. Adherence to these guidelines will not ensure successful treatment in every situation.
ED Management of Early Pregnancy Loss
Last updated: December 18, 2023
A clinical guide and chart for diagnosing and managing early pregnancy loss in the Emergency Department. Includes EPL diagnosis, expectant management, medication management, procedure management and more.
See the guideED Management of Early Pregnancy Loss (Misoprostol Protocol)
Last updated: December 18, 2023
A clinical guide and chart for diagnosing and managing early pregnancy loss in the ED for sites without access to mifepristone. Includes EPL diagnosis, expectant management, medication management, procedure management and more.
See the guide
Originally published by Bridge
Work With Us
You change the world. We do the rest. Explore fiscal sponsorship at PHI.
Support Us
Together, we can accelerate our response to public health’s most critical issues.
Find Employment
Begin your career at the Public Health Institute.
