MDNews - Central Pennsylvania

"We've researched the effect of a prenatal diagnosis on parents' mental health," Irvin explains. "If they learn about their baby's condition ahead of time, we can prepare them. However, we realize it can also cause a lot of stress at a time when they are supposed to be excited about the birth of their baby." To address those concerns, Stoner meets with patients and families regularly until their babies are released from the NICU. In addition to counseling them in the hospital, Stoner equips them with coping skills they can use at home. "Many of these babies have complex medical needs that may be lifelong," Irvin says. "We know that once they're discharged, their outcomes are heavily dependent on their parents. If we ignore parents' mental health needs, they're not going to be as attentive to changes in their babies that may cue some serious medical need." The program's pediatric palliative care team is well-known and drives many referrals, according to Irvin. "Our specialists are experts at helping parents make decisions about how they want the birth to look: what's important to them, what's important for their baby," she says. "Additionally, we provide broad-based supportive services when the situation doesn't necessarily require medical intervention." EARLY REFERRALS FOR BETTER OUTCOMES With comprehensive medical and surgical capabilities and support services, the Perinatal Program offers a level of care rarely found outside select major metropolitan areas, Dr. Pauli says. That appeals to central Pennsylvanians, who do not want to travel hours for treatment, deal with big-city traffic or deliver their babies far from home. "We can handle high-risk maternal-fetal care," Dr. Pauli says. "If the mother goes into labor in the middle of the night, we can take care of her. But if we know about the baby's condition during prenatal care, the parents can prepare for it and the subspecialists can make a plan for what the baby will need after birth." She encourages providers to refer patients for evaluation as soon as a fetal anomaly is suspected. Women whose babies will likely need surgery or NICU admission are advised to deliver at Hershey Medical Center, so deliveries can be scheduled to accommodate the baby's needs and no time is lost transferring a sick newborn from an institution less equipped to care for it. In such a case, Dr. Pauli consults with the referring physician about temporarily assuming care before returning the patient to her primary care provider. "We are happy to coordinate prenatal care," she says. "We respect the patient-provider relationship." POISED FOR GROWTH The Perinatal Program currently treats approximately 120 patients a nnua l ly a nd ha s ex perienced sig nif ica nt g row t h since its founding. Penn State Children's Hospital is growing as well, Dr. Pauli notes. In a few years, Labor and Delivery and the NICU will move together into the expanded building. Meanwhile, the Perinatal Program is applying for institutional designation as a Perinatal Center, setting it apart as a multidisciplinary, collaborative group providing advanced care. "We provide patients local care on the same level as or better than they could get anywhere in the state," Dr. Pauli says. For information, visit childrens.pennstatehealth.org/perinatal. n " At Hershey Medical Center, we can maximize a baby's outcome because we have the experience and expertise to address the complete spectrum of conditions — especially with early intervention and early prenatal care." — JAIMEY M. PAULI, MD, PERINATAL PROGRAM CO-DIRECTOR, PENN STATE HEALTH MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER AND PENN STATE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY AT PENN STATE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF LABOR AND DELIVERY Evidence- Based Care Studies published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, the Journal of Surgical Research and other peer-reviewed pub - lications have concluded that early diagnosis improves outcomes for babies with a wide range of congenital anomalies, some of which include esophageal atresia, diaphragmatic hernia and heart disease. 1 4❱❱❱❱❱ C O M P R E H E N S I V E E X P E R T I S E

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