If a congenital heart condition is expected for a high-risk pregnancy, referring providers still can  retain their patients through delivery by collaborating with Norton Children and Norton Healthcare. We use an integrated approach for collaborative care among obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) and fetal cardiology specialties.

Referring providers will remain the primary contact for the patient, and the patient’s primary provider, whether it be an obstetrician or MFM specialist, remains part of the care team and collaborates with our specialists in the care plan for the patient and for baby’s delivery. There is also the ability to deliver with the patient’s primary provider, while Norton Children’s and Norton Healthcare providers maintain a consultative role.

We have relationships with many hospitals in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, and collaborate with each patient’s home providers to help determine the best care for each high-risk pregnancy. Collaborative care with our health system involves:

• Collaboration with maternal-fetal medicine specialists who provide high-risk pregnancy care
• Full range of prenatal testing, diagnosis and counseling
• Coordination of follow-up monitoring and care throughout the pregnancy
• Ongoing communication and coordination with referring physicians
• Including referring provider in preparations for baby’s birth

Often, high-risk pregnancy patients may find that a hospital system requires that they receive care completely within that system, but collaboration is key with Norton Children’s and Norton Healthcare. It is our goal to collaborate with  providers in all of the hospitals in the region, putting the patient’s health at the center of our care. This level of collaboration is a unique offering within our system, as not every hospital system will read fetal echocardiograms or include all members of a patient’s existing care team, such as obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine physicians.

“The way we have set up our fetal tele-echocardiography sites and partnered with other systems in the state is mutually beneficial for all,” said Brian J. Holland, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine.

Dr. Holland, who specializes in fetal cardiology, also serves as chief of pediatric cardiology at the University of Louisville.

“This approach allows for any provider to help their patients identify possible heart issues earlier and make a referral for the best chance at positive outcomes,” Dr. Holland said.