"The Columbus Fetal Medicine Collaborative is a unique commitment from Ohio State, OhioHealth, Mount Carmel and Nationwide Children's to offer our patients ---- pregnant women, their families and infants with at-risk fetal conditions ---- the expertise of highly experienced and technically gifted perinatologists, pediatric surgeons, neonatologists and other pediatric specialists who can address all maternal and fetal issues to offer the best outcomes," said Caniano. "A significant additional benefit of the Collaborative will be the ability to conduct maternal-fetal and neonatal services research of the highest caliber which will enable us to provide state-of-the-art patient care. Pregnant women can feel confident that they are receiving the best available care for their at-risk infants."

The Collaborative members meet monthly for case conferences to assure a seamless integrated approach to comprehensive services provided by a fetal medicine coordinator who schedules tests, arranges appointments with specialists, and can assist in selecting a perinatologist. Most importantly, the fetal medicine coordinator is available to answer questions and serve as a single resource of information from the moment of referral to the Collaborative.

Each hospital maintains its own telemedicine suite consisting of large flat screen panel monitors, high definition cameras and supporting transmission technology. Telemedicine technology allows the sharing of both video (ultrasound images, live speakers/moderators) and static information (x-ray images, lab results, MRI pictures, etc) which is critical for consensus-building amongst various clinical disciplines. An immediate sharing of clinical information regarding diagnosis, treatment options and windows for intervention can be accommodated via telemedicine as needed.

SOURCE Columbus Fetal Medicine Collaborative

wwwlumbusfetalmedicine