Background. A development towards earlier postnatal discharge presents a challenge to find new ways to provide information and\nsupport to families. A possibility is the use of telemedicine. Objective. To explore how using an app in nursing practice affects\nthe nurses� ability to offer support and information to postnatal mothers who are discharged early and their families. Design.\nParticipatory design. An app with a chat, a knowledgebase, and automated messages was tried out between hospital and parents at\nhome. Settings. The intervention took place on a postnatal ward with approximately 1,000 births a year. Participants. At the onset\nof the intervention, 17 nurses, all women, were working on the ward. At the end of the intervention, 16 nurses were employed,\nall women. Methods. Participant observation and two focus group interviews. The data analysis was inspired by systematic text\ncondensation. Results. The nurses on the postnatal ward consider that the use of the app gives families easier access to timely\ninformation and support. Conclusions. The app gives the nurses the possibility to offer support and information to the parents\nbeing early discharged. The app is experienced as a lifeline that connects the homes of the new parents with the hospital.
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