Telemedicine Supports Unique Fetal Medicine Collaborative

Recently all the major hospital systems serving Central Ohio announced the formation of a unique joint program known as the Columbus Fetal Medicine Collaborative.  Mt. Carmel, OhioHealth, OSU Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s have all banded together to provide optimal outcomes for high-risk expectant mothers and their babies with suspected fetal abnormalities.  The collaborative will offer a comprehensive range of services, diagnostics and treatment options available within family-centered environments.  The partnership addresses the importance of prenatal care which extends beyond the mother to include the developing baby.  Perinatologists (physicians specializing in high-risk pregnancies) will identify prenatal issues, and then work with leading physicians in a variety of specialties to provide care from fetal diagnosis through newborn care.

To facilitate care from such a diverse group of specialists across four major hospital systems, each hospital will maintain a telemedicine suite consisting of large flat screen panel monitors, HD cameras and supporting transmission technology.  This technology is essential for consensus-building amongst various clinical disciplines and allows for immediate sharing of clinical information including ultrasound images, x-rays, lab results, MRI pictures, etc.  

The Columbus Fetal Medicine Collaborative is one of only a few such medical collaborations in existence in the US.

For more information, see the release from Nationwide Children’s Hospital