Midwest Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) is a group of high-risk obstetricians providing prenatal care in Missouri and Illinois.
The group provides an average of 1,300 telemedicine consultations every year. This year, MFM has tripled its number of telemedicine consultations in just the first half of 2013.
MFM's expert doctors see patients in St. Louis. Telemedicine now allows these doctors to consult with patients in Washington and O'Fallon, Mo., and Maryville, Ill., utilizing ultrasound machine provided by Mercy Hospital St. Louis.
The ultrasound machines allow St. Louis doctors to view real-time fetal ultrasounds to support doctors in their outlying clinics. When needed, the St. Louis doctors speak directly to the patients.
"When patients get a regular ultrasound and find out something might be wrong, or there is uncertainty, it can be a stressful time. By getting patients to one of our outlying facilities and using telemedicine to conference with our maternal-fetal medicine experts, we are able to give them more information that same day," said Dr. Gilbert Webb, MFM's medical director. "Additional tests can be done immediately, and patients get guidance from our specialists on what the results mean for them."
Recently, a couple had an ultrasound in MFM's Washington clinic. When the Washington doctor consulted with Webb through telemedicine technology, Webb confirmed that the couple was having triplets. He was also able to assist with implementing an immediate care plan for the mother.
"Our telemedicine capabilities enable our experts here in St. Louis to support patients at our other offices in real time, near the patients' homes and primary physicians," Webb said. "That saves those patients the cost and time of driving to our main office.”
"And, more importantly," Webb added, "it gives them the peace of mind of getting expert support without waiting long periods of time."
Edited by
Alisen Downey
