Expanding Rural Access to Prenatal Care with Teleultrasound

A new AHA Market Scan Trailblazers report, sponsored by GE HealthCare, explores how hospitals and health systems are expanding access to high-quality prenatal and obstetrical care in rural and underserved areas with remote teleultrasound (TUS). Maternal age is increasing nationwide, and high-risk pregnancies are becoming more common. Access to prenatal care is vital to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients; however, 34.6% of U.S. counties qualify as maternity care deserts, areas that lack birthing facilities and obstetrical clinicians, according to the March of Dimes.

Connecting Clinicians with Patients for Better Outcomes

Some hospitals and health systems have adopted TUS to connect patients in remote areas with maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists. Trained sonographers perform ultrasounds and transmit the images to an off-site clinician for assessment. When both locations have reliable equipment and Wi-Fi, studies have found that TUS is as effective as in-person ultrasound.

Extending the Reach of Fetal Cardiologists

The report includes a case study detailing how Aurora-based Children’s Hospital Colorado improves outcomes for pregnant patients with TUS. The hospital’s Colorado Fetal Care Center specializes in high-risk pregnancies, and its maternal fetal telemedicine program allows fetal cardiology specialists in Aurora to examine pregnant patients in remote and rural areas.

The fetal cardiology team performs approximately 1,700 diagnostic ultrasound tests per year. Most occur on an outpatient basis, and the team uses TUS to perform the majority of those outpatient ultrasounds. The technology supports early diagnosis of fetal heart abnormalities and gives care teams time to prepare for high-risk deliveries and life-saving interventions.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT»