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Re: Non-Diagnostic Use of UltrasoundFrom: Marilyn Ringst (marilyncnm@hotmail.com)Wed Jul 31 16:39:32 2002
<<i've noticed a few of these places involve members of SDMS and in one case, an MFM.>> Lexington Herald-Leader Reports on Use of '4-D' Ultrasounds for Prenatal Screening [Jul 30, 2002] The Lexington Herald-Leader reported yesterday on the "handful" of obstetrical clinics in Kentucky that have begun using new "4D" ultrasound machines for prenatal screening. The Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp. clinic in Whitesburg was the first clinic in the state to purchase one of the imaging systems, which allow doctors and patients to view a fetus in three dimensions and in real time, in June 2001. Since then several other clinics have added the $200,000 machines, known as the GE 4D Volusion 730. While the Whitesburg clinic offers 4D imaging to all patients, the Perinatal Diagnostic Center at Central Baptist Hospital and Central Kentucky High-Risk Obstetrics in Lexington reserve the costlier exams for patients with high-risk pregnancies -- those at increased risk for genetic defects or fetal malformations. A Popular Option Dr. John O'Brien, a maternal-fetal specialist at Central Baptist, said, "We've had several patients who've expressed the desire to pay for their own ultrasound, just to get the 4D to get a better view," he said. Dr. Wade Baker, an obstetrician at the Whitesburg clinic, stated that the device is an "extremely valuable diagnostic tool," in addition to being a "draw" for pregnant women. Ultrasonographers at the Whitesburg clinic generally use the 4D imaging system once the fetus has reached 30 weeks' gestation and is fully formed. Baker explained that fetal images viewed at this stage of pregnancy allow physicians to identify "serious abnormalities" of the fetus prior to birth. He noted that this predictive capability is "important" for women in rural areas who need to plan for the birth of a newborn with malformations because they live several hours away from the nearest neonatal intensive care unit. At least one ultrasound during pregnancy is usually covered by insurance, and most providers will cover additional ultrasounds for high-risk pregnancies. O'Brien said that his clinic does not expect to charge patients more for the 4D imaging, although the Whitesburg clinic charges more than twice the cost of a regular two-dimensional ultrasound for the 4D procedure (Isaacs, Lexington Herald-Leader, 7/29).
-- Marilyn Ringstaff, CNM Rome, Georgia
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