How One Simple Tool Helped Save Two Lives
United Way’s blood pressure monitoring program helps expectant mothers catch health risks early
Jenna* sensed something was wrong, and thanks to a home blood pressure cuff she’d been trained to use, she caught the signs of preeclampsia in time. Her early delivery saved her baby’s life, and her own.
Jenna is one of more than 600 high-risk expectant mothers in Summit County who received a home blood pressure monitor through a United Way of Summit & Medina–led initiative focused on early detection and maternal well-being. Through their funding, they helped Summa Health and Cleveland Clinic Akron General train patients to monitor and understand their readings, allowing timely medical intervention that saved lives.
“Had she waited to get a cuff through Medicaid or tried to purchase one herself, she might not have known something was wrong until it was too late,” says Denise Thomas, Director of Community Impact and Health at United Way of Summit and Medina. “
We don’t just hand out blood pressure cuffs, we teach people how to use them. That’s what makes the difference."
This initiative is part of United Way’s broader mission to build healthy communities where every person has access to the tools, knowledge, and care needed to thrive. In Summit County, United Way isn’t just responding to need. It’s investing in long-term systemic change that centers human beings.
The work also includes a forward-thinking academic partnership with the University of Akron, where a new pilot course is helping future healthcare and social work professionals broaden their understanding of patient care. Students explore how their own backgrounds and life experiences may shape interactions with patients, learning ways to strengthen those relationships through empathy, active listening, and more effective communication.
Together, these strategies are improving outcomes and building confidence for patients like Jenna and the professionals who serve them. With a model that pairs low-cost clinical tools with expanded education, United Way of Summit & Medina is helping lead a shift in how communities care for mothers and babies.
“Everyone deserves a fair shot,” Denise says. “And we’re working to make that possible in Summit County.”
*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s privacy.