The Partograph is a paper-based chart that is used by birthing personnel to assess the progress of labor and to identify when intervention is necessary. Studies have shown that using the partograph can be highly effective in reducing complications from prolonged labor for the mother and for the newborn.

University of Colorado-Boulder Ph.D candidate Heather Underwood is working to increase the effectiveness of the partograph, not with ‘rip-and-tear’ innovation but with a progressive innovation to improve the accuracy of using the form. Her innovation, PartoPen, enhances the paper-based partograph by using digital pen technology that can provide real-time feedback to birthing attendant.