MATERNAL -FETAL TELEMEDICINE:

PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES

Anne Patterson, MD

CEO Women’s Telehealth

Atlanta, GA

Who we are and what we do

Our mission: “To bring scarce high risk maternal fetal medicine services to underserved areas via telemedicine”.

Our Services: Ultrasound Store and Forward Maternal Fetal Medicine Consults Remote “Grand Rounds” Remote long distance learning for Sonographers Specialty “high risk clinics” for HTN, GDM, etc.

Women’s Telehealth Making Progress:  Telemedicine is increasing

access for women in underserved areas.

Pilot program with state health department

5049 Completed MFM telemedicine encounters

 Women have access to MFM subspecialty care in their home communities > 80% of cases

WHY DELIVER MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE SERVICES VIA TELEMEDICINE?

Removes access barriers for MFM services

Decreases cost per pt (saving time and $)

Facilitates continuity of care if hospital is needed

Improved patient compliance

Enhanced patient experience

159 Counties in Georgia. BUT : < 80 counties provide Obstetric care!

· Georgia ranks 50th in maternal mortality

· Georgia ranks 41st out of 50 states in rates of teen pregnancy and additionally has the 4th

 highest repeat teen pregnancy rate in the United States

·Georgia ranks 45th out of 50 states in the high number of low birth weight babies born

·Georgia ranks 42nd out of 50 states in premature births.

Georgia OB Statistics Need Improving:MFM Telemedicine/Access Can Help

    Preliminary Outcomes:•        Improved patient compliance•        Rural area coverage expanding with telemedicine•        Innovative antepartum education identifies and leads to earlier high risk intervention, < problems•        Patient acceptance and satisfaction high•        Obstetrician/ MFM Specialist relations enhanced•        Healthcare transitions across settings enhanced•        Preterm births decreased from 18% to 8% in target areas of state• Low birth weight rate decreased from 16% to 5%• Government, hospitals, carriers monitoring results

MFM Telemedicine is Impacting Outcomes

GA Percent of Births, Very preterm (less than 32 weeks), Preterm (32-36 weeks) by Public Health District, All Public Health Districts,

2008-2011

SEE MFM TELEMEDICINE IN ACTION

Video recorded in February 2014 at the Georgia State Capitol. Presentations made in both Senate and House of Representatives so they could experience “live” telemedicine for themselves and interact with high risk OB patient from Dougherty Co. Health Dept.