Perinatal Regionalization
What is Perinatal Regionalization...
... it is a comprehensive, coordinated and geographically structured approach
to assuring risk-appropriate care for all mothers and infants with a goal of
improving perinatal outcomes and reducing infant mortality. Key elements of
the system include early risk-assessment and referral to appropriate care;
designation of care as Basic (level I), Specialty (level II & IIE), and
Subspecialty (level III); coordination and communication between hospitals
and community providers; monitoring of systems through data; and assuring access
to services from preconception through first year of life.
The Perinatal Regions...
... there are four perinatal regions and five regional perinatal centers
in SC:
- Low Country Region - Medical University of South Carolina
- Pee Dee Region - McLeod Regional Medical Center
- Midlands Region - Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital
- Piedmont Region - Greenville Hospital System, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center
The Perinatal System Development Activities...
- REGIONAL SYSTEM DEVELOPERS work with all perinatal providers and hospitals within their regions to develop and support a system of risk-appropriate care for all mothers and babies.
- OBSTETRIC AND NEONATAL OUTREACH EDUCATION is coordinated and provided to hospitals, health departments and community providers of perinatal services to support professional expertise.
- DISCHARGE COORDINATION assures a coordinated system of referral and follow-up for pregnant women, infants and children between the regional centers and communities.
- NEONATAL AND MATERNAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS for high- risk pregnant women and infants to regional centers and back-transport of neonates when appropriate.
- CONSULTATION provided by regional centers to hospitals and other providers on risk-appropriate care and transport.
- DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS through Perinatal Regionalization Surveillance Data Annual Update.
- VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT study to monitor number of high-risk births occurring in Level III hospitals and identify strategies to assure deliveries in appropriate setting.
- PARTNERSHIP with SC Perinatal Association and March of
Dimes for systems’ assessment,
development and interventions.