FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2009

St. John’s Mercy Hospital, in partnership with St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, is expanding obstetric services to include real-time, person-to-person consultations with genetic counselors and maternal-fetal-specialists via web camera.

Women with high-risk or potentially high-risk pregnancies are most likely to be referred to these services. Patients who are referred can take their ultrasounds at St. John’s Mercy Hospital and have the images transferred via computer to the maternal-fetal specialists at the Perinatal Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. The images are reviewed by the maternal-fetal specialist there and then discussed with the patient at St. John’s Mercy Hospital via web-cam. The consultation is secure and private.

Maternal-fetal specialists have three years of additional training specializing in ultrasound, perinatal diagnosis of fetal conditions and care of maternal medical problems. Not all pregnant women need the services of maternal-fetal specialists, but many women fall within high-risk categories, such as a known birth defect, abnormal fetal growth or health issues that the mother may have or ones she may develop during her pregnancy.

“Women want reassurance that their unborn children are healthy and prenatal screening programs like this one provide an opportunity to do a physical exam on a fetus,” said Dr. Jim Bartelsmeyer, director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. “The screening programs are a combination of ultrasounds and blood tests that can reliably diagnose and eliminate the majority of birth defects and genetic problems that can affect a newborn’s health.” 

Further assessment and testing may include serial fetal monitoring or genetic counseling. Genetic counselors may suggest performing other tests to help doctors and their patients determine the best treatment options.

“Prenatal testing can be complicated and confusing for individuals who are not familiar with the process,” said Dr. Bartelsmeyer. “Genetic counselors provide women with the necessary information to make informed choices, and they provide support and effective treatment when a fetal abnormality is identified.”

“A genetic counselor reviews a patient's family history to determine if there are risk factors to the pregnancy and explains the various testing options available to them so that they can make an informed decision,” said Kay LeChien, a genetic counselor at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. “We talk to the patient about the detection rates for these tests, what conditions are tested for and about any possible risks.”

The service will fulfill a need in the area.

“Up to this time, patients needed to travel to St Louis County to obtain the care we will provide by telemedicine at St. John’s Mercy Hospital,” said Dr. Bartelsmeyer. “This technology provides a level of care to patients much closer to where they live.” 

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