Being recorded is not the same as being heard.
Good maternity care is not only about whether the right clinical action happened. Women also need to know that somebody heard them, understood what mattered, remembered their story and came back when they said they would.
Being heard is not the same as information being recorded. A concern is only truly heard when somebody acknowledges it, responds to it, and closes the loop with the patient.
Nothing missed.
Nothing unheard.
Tell us once.
Close the loop.
The next clinician should start with context — not make the patient start again.
- HEARShe said it.
- KNOWThe team understood the context.
- OWNSomebody took responsibility.
- ACTThey responded.
- TELLThey came back to her.
- CHECKThey checked whether the concern was actually resolved.
This is how Pathscription turns “listening” into an accountable workflow.
- HEAR“I told someone.”
- KNOW“They understood my history.”
- OWN“I knew somebody was dealing with it.”
- ACT“Something actually happened.”
- TELL“Someone came back and explained.”
- CHECK“They checked whether I was okay / understood / still needed help.”
This is what “heard & held” looks like as a workflow.
Good maternity care is not only about whether the right clinical action happened. Women also need to know that somebody heard them, understood what mattered, remembered their story and came back when they said they would.
2
Patient concerns open
1
Awaiting acknowledgement
1
Patients reporting they do not understand next step
1
Patients waiting for something promised
1
Patients reporting preferences not heard
0
Support requests open
1
Care context not yet reviewed by incoming team
1
Concerns responded to but not confirmed resolved
No live prototype signals yet — raise one from My care to see it arrive here.
Communication and continuity signals only. No medical urgency is assigned automatically.
- 1Patient speaks
- 2Concern / need recorded
- 3Team sees it
- 4Owner assigned
- 5Acknowledged
- 6Response
- 7Patient updated
- 8Patient understanding checked
- 9“Did that address your concern?”
Yes → complete
No / partly → loop remains open → further review
- Raised✓
- Acknowledged✓
- Clinician responded✓
- Patient updated✓
- Patient says concern resolved—
Loop open
A response does not automatically mean the patient felt heard.
Potential continuity gap detected.
- 3 team changes today
- Patient concern remains open
- Patient reports not understanding next step
- Care plan changed
- Incoming team has not reviewed care context
Potential continuity gap detected. This is an operational communication signal. It does not predict harm and never states that a patient is unsafe.
What matters to this patient today
- “I am very anxious about the anaesthetic.”
- “Please explain what is happening before touching me.”
- “I want my husband with me for important conversations.”
- “I do not want to have to recount my previous birth again.”
Patient-stated priorities — not clinical instructions.
Shown before routine secondary information at: Antenatal appointment · Admission · Labour ward · Anaesthetic view · Theatre handover · Recovery · Postnatal ward · Discharge planning.
- Named midwifeAnna Lewis · With you today
- Current obstetric clinicianDr Alex Morgan · Reviewed your context
- Anaesthetic clinicianUpcoming · Has not met you yet
- Care coordinatorAnna Lewis · Coordinating your pathway
- Support personJames Green · Present
- Important contextAVAILABLE
- What matters todayAVAILABLE
- Current planAVAILABLE
- Patient preferencesAVAILABLE
- Open concerns1
- Open actions2
- Previous team handoverRECEIVED
Start with her, not the screen
- 1. Read what matters to her
- 2. Review open concerns
- 3. Review existing plan
- 4. Avoid unnecessary repetition
- 5. Introduce yourself and explain your role
Illustrative workflow guidance, not mandatory clinical instruction.
Important for the next team
- Sophie is frightened about the anaesthetic.
- Anaesthetic discussion: still outstanding.
- She does not want to recount her previous birth again.
- Care summary: available.
- Birth partner: present.
- Current question: “What happens if the plan changes?”
- What she is worried aboutThe anaesthetic
- What she finds difficultRepeating her previous birth story
- What she is waiting forSenior clinician discussion
- What has been promisedObstetric clinician will return
- What she understandsThe agreed plan is a planned Caesarean
- What she does not understandWhat happens if the plan changes
- What matters todayExplanations before anything is done
- Open support needsEmotional wellbeing discussion
No silent handover
- Clinical tasks transferredYES
- Patient concerns transferredYES
- Important context transferredYES
- Promises / waiting items transferredYES
- Patient informed of new teamNO
Patient communication outstanding
How are you after what just happened?
How are you after what just happened?
Do you understand what happened?
Do you want someone to talk it through with you?
Nothing here is a psychological assessment or diagnosis.
Turn on maternity research mode above to see the proposed “feeling held” measures.
Fictional demonstration data. Patient-reported experience is treated as communication workflow only — never as a diagnosis, clinical assessment or urgency judgement. See the patient view →