Hospitals Join Forces to Offer Critical Perinatal Testing in
North
County
A newly opened Perinatal Testing Center at Palomar Medical Center is providing North County obstetricians and their patients access to state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosis and treatment during a high-risk pregnancy. The program is offered through an agreement between University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center and Palomar Pomerado Health. The
perinatologists,
physicians who specialize in the care of high-risk pregnancies, are full-time faculty at UCSD School of Medicine who also provide services to primary care obstetricians in the community.
“By combining the strengths of Palomar Pomerado Health and UCSD, we can help mothers-to-be throughout San Diego enjoy a healthier, well-informed pregnancy,” says
Tom Moore, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Reproductive Medicine at UC San Diego.
The new Perinatal Testing Center at Palomar Medical Center offers: 1) targeted ultrasound to determine anatomical problems or to evaluate fetal development; 2) genetic testing including family history, and carrier screening and counseling; 3) third trimester testing to help plan the timing of a delivery; and 4) diabetes management and education.
Common reasons for a perinatology consultation include medical conditions in the prospective mother that create a higher than normal risk of problems such as being over age 35 or having diabetes or high blood pressure, pregnancy conditions including multiple babies, pre-eclampsia or other gestational complications; or medical conditions of the developing fetus including birth defects.
“The center adds to the continuum of care because we are available locally to consult with the women’s primary care obstetrician to achieve the best results for the patient and her baby,” says Thomas Kelly, MD, Chief, Division of Perinatal Medicine at UCSD and Medical Director of the program. “Patients no longer have to drive outside their community for these tests.”
Patients wishing to schedule an evaluation at the new Center may call 760-739-3404.
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Media Contact: Jacke Carr, 619-543-6163,
jcarr@ucsd.edu