About

Kirstin Leitner, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She serves as an Attending Physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and also attends in Gynecology and Neonatology at PENN Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Leitner is a Clinical Associate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in the Department of Family and Community Health and holds the position of Associate Director of Obstetrics at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her clinical expertise includes postpartum care and the female athlete triad. Her research focuses on the use of technology to improve patient care and experience, with particular interest in clinician and patient use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to enhance postpartum care. Dr. Leitner has contributed to the development of conversational agents for postpartum support and has been involved in studies assessing the impact of telehealth and augmented intelligence on postpartum outcomes. Her work emphasizes innovative approaches to women's health, integrating technology to support better health outcomes and patient engagement.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Obstetrics
• Family medicine
• Endocrinology
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• A Conversational Agent Using Natural Language Processing for Postpartum Care for New Mothers: Development and Engagement Analysis

  JMIR AI · 2025-04-22 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: The "fourth trimester," or postpartum time period, remains a critical phase of pregnancy that significantly impacts parents and newborns. Care poses challenges due to complex individual needs as well as low attendance rates at routine appointments. A comprehensive technological solution could provide a holistic and equitable solution to meet care goals. Objective: This paper describes the development of patient engagement data with a novel postpartum conversational agent that uses natural language processing to support patients post partum. Methods: We report on the development of a postpartum conversational agent from concept to usable product as well as the patient engagement with this technology. Content for the program was developed using patient- and provider-based input and clinical algorithms. Our program offered 2-way communication to patients and details on physical recovery, lactation support, infant care, and warning signs for problems. This was iterated upon by our core clinical team and an external expert clinical panel before being tested on patients. Patients eligible for discharge around 24 hours after delivery who had delivered a singleton full-term infant vaginally were offered use of the program. Patient demographics, accuracy, and patient engagement were collected over the first 6 months of use. Results: A total of 290 patients used our conversational agent over the first 6 months, of which 112 (38.6%) were first time parents and 162 (56%) were Black. In total, 286 (98.6%) patients interacted with the platform at least once, 271 patients (93.4%) completed at least one survey, and 151 (52%) patients asked a question. First time parents and those breastfeeding their infants had higher rates of engagement overall. Black patients were more likely to promote the program than White patients (P=.047). The overall accuracy of the conversational agent during the first 6 months was 77%. Conclusions: It is possible to develop a comprehensive, automated postpartum conversational agent. The use of such a technology to support patients postdischarge appears to be acceptable with very high engagement and patient satisfaction.

  PublisherDOI

• 816P Laparoscopic versus open-surgery in FIGO stage II endometrioid endometrium cancers: Is there a prognostic effect?

  Annals of Oncology · 2023-10-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Identifying new onset postpartum hypertension in a low risk population using remote blood pressure monitoring

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2023-01-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: Case report of spontaneous uteroenteric fistula

  International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics · 2023-09-18

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Synopsis Uteroenteric fistulae in the setting of degenerating leiomyomas may present with small bowel obstruction and require multidisciplinary surgical management to perform fertility‐sparing myomectomy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The impact on postpartum care by telehealth: a qualitative evaluation of the patient perspective

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2023-09-15

  letter
  PublisherDOI

• Healing at Home: Impacting Postpartum Outcomes Utilizing Clinical Practice Changes and Augmented Intelligence [ID: 1379350]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2023-05-01

  article1st authorCorresponding

  INTRODUCTION: The fourth trimester is a time of great physical and emotional challenge. To help patients navigate this period, we created the Healing at Home (H@H) program, which combined expedited discharge with a 24/7 bidirectional postpartum support chatbot. METHODS: Clinical outcomes, abstracted from medical record and patient report via text message, were evaluated for patients enrolled in H@H (March 2020 to September 2021) compared to patients delivering prior to program implementation (July to December 2019). Enrolled patients had a full-term singleton vaginal delivery of a non-small-for-gestational-age infant without postpartum hemorrhage (>1,000 cc), a low-risk sepsis risk score, a low- to intermediate-risk bilirubin, and lack of significant maternal comorbidities (eg, preeclampsia, preexisting diabetes). Institutional review board waiver for this quality improvement study was obtained. RESULTS: There were 490 patients enrolled in H@H versus 309 in preintervention group. The groups were similar in parity, race, ethnicity, and insurance status. There was no difference in the primary outcome, postpartum visit attendance (76.9% versus 76.1%, P =.77). H@H patients had a shorter postpartum length of stay (33.3 versus 46.7 hours, P <.001), higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 1 week (59.2% versus 57.0%, P =.02), and a higher rate of contraceptive use (55% versus 44%, P =.01), with no difference in maternal unscheduled visits or hospital readmissions. CONCLUSION: This innovative postpartum program was associated with a shorter length of stay and improvement in contraceptive acceptance and breastfeeding without increasing unscheduled visits. Future studies should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this program and expansion to higher-risk patients including those with cesarean delivery and medical comorbidities.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessing the impact of telehealth implementation on postpartum outcomes for Black birthing people

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2022-12-07 · 34 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The impact on postpartum care by telehealth: a retrospective cohort study

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2022-03-21 · 37 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluating the Importance of Immediate Postpartum Depression Screening [A269]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2022-05-01

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) is costly for women, families, and the health care system. Early identification is critical. We sought to evaluate PPD screening at delivery discharge and compare ongoing rates of positive screening among women at risk of PPD. METHODS: In September 2020, we implemented universal Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) screening postpartum (PP) prior to discharge. A score of 9–12 and>12 was moderate and high risk for PPD, respectively. All who scored≥9 met with social workers and were referred for outpatient resources. From September to December 2020, women who scored≥9 were contacted for re-screening at 1–3 weeks PP and at 6-weeks PP visit. RESULTS: A total of 1,256 women underwent immediate PPD screening. Of those, 165 (13.1%) scored ≥9, with 63 (5.0%) of these scoring >12. Two percent (n=24) indicated thoughts of self-harm. Over 50% (n=80) had no prior history of mental illness. Among women who scored≥9 immediately PP and were reached for re-screening, 58 of 111 (52.5%) scored ≥9 within 3 weeks and 48 of 93 (51.6%) scored ≥9 at their PP visit. Among women who scored>12 immediately PP, 32 of 42 (76.2%) scored ≥9 at 3 weeks and 24 of 31 (77.4%) scored ≥9 at their PP visit. Only 41 (24.8%) had initiated therapy by their PP visit. CONCLUSION: Immediate PP EPDS screening is feasible and captures women at risk of PPD. More than half of women who had an elevated score immediately PP continued to score high at their PP visit. Timely screening and access to mental health services is critical and should be integrated into PP care.

  PublisherDOI

• IMPACT (IMpact on PostpArtum Care by Telehealth) Study: a qualitative evaluation of the patient perspective

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2021-12-23

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Irina Burd

  5 shared

• Roy Rosin

  University of Pennsylvania Health System

  4 shared

• Jessica S. Gaulton

  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

  4 shared

• Lori Christ

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  4 shared

• Ryan Schumacher

  4 shared

• Rebecca F. Hamm

  4 shared

• Michael V. Johnston

  Johns Hopkins Medicine

  4 shared

• Maria Paula Arias

  4 shared

Education

• MD

  University of Pennsylvania