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MFM Foundation - NT Program - overviewFrom: stork2001@comcast.netMon Sep 26 11:05:28 2005
David: I tried to respond also to the ultrasound@obgyn.net, but would have to join to have it go through. I would appreciate if you would send or post my message to you there so that others like you would have an opportunity to view my response to you. Thanks very much for your attention and anticipated help. Richard Depp,
>-------------- Original message -------------- David I am taking the liberty of responding to an email you sent out to a listing, which was forwarded to me via a circuitous route. I thought it might help if I responded, if even briefly. The MFM Foundation (MFMF) is a new foundation originally initiated by the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (http://www.smfm.org ) in direct response to a recommendation by the ACOG (see their bulletin on NT or first trimester risk assessment) that NT should only be done within a framework of quality review. The MFMF functions largely via advice from a large multi-disciplinary NT Oversight committee that includes a large number of clinicians with significant experience in NT and first trimester risk assessment. The MFM Foundation is now independent of the SMFM, but has been able to build this program via support by the SMFM and donations by Board members and members of the NTOC sizable in both dollar amount and lost opportunity costs. Each member of the NTOC has contributed hundreds of personal discretionary hours to the process – so called “lost opportunity” costs for them as an indication of their commitment and their interpretation of the importance of this effort. One point is relevant to state upfront - The FMF has indeed done a good job and as you indicated – for free. The SMFM, after considerable evaluation of the issue and after considerable consultation with so-called experts in the field, has taken the tact that there should be a Quality review organization that meets two criteria - 1) based in the US and 2) has an oversight group (NTOC) that is diverse, and broad based that can represent all parties interested in the issue, including OB-GYNs, MFMs, radiologists and non-physician sonographers that can respond to the issues of clinical providers in the US. The MFM Foundation’s – NT Education and Quality Review program allows for complete soup to nuts credentialing including education and exam on the MFM Foundation website (http://www.mfmf.org ) without a need to attend an out of town meeting. The educational content has been hammered out by a large consensus group over several months and the exam linked to the content is also one reviewed by the same oversight committee. We also believe that this NT program is an important opportunity to demonstrate that American physicians can review / monitor themselves. We believe this is something that Is coming down the pike and that we would prefer that physicians lead the process. The laboratories have the CAP (College of Pathologists) process for the review of clinical laboratory functions. Like you, I don’t want to belong to another society or organization. Any revenue generated by this program will go to covering the very significant start-up costs and on-going maintenance. Even with our most optimistic projections, we are unlikely to break even within the next 3 years, despite all the volunteer time we have received. We believe this is a big step forward for perinatal medicine and will have significant benefits to all involved, including our patients. So far, almost 1200 have either completed or are in the process of being credentialed by the NT program. If you have been previously credentialed by the BUN trial, the FaSTER trial, or by the FMF, you may become credentialed at a significant discount without need for an exam, if you act by October 1, 2005. I hope that you find this information of interest. You can gather more information at http://www.mfmf.org rd Richard Depp, MD Exec. VP, Society for Mat. Fetal Medicine President, Maternal Fetal Medicine Foundation 1280 Club House Road Gladwyne, PA 19035-1003 610-527-6294 From: Dave Berck <djberck@yahoo.com> Reply-To: ultrasound@obgyn.net To: Multiple recipients of list ULTRASOUND <ultrasound@dns.obgyn.net> Subject: Maternal Fetal Medicine Foundation Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 21:16:07 -0500 I have just been invited to join the Maternal Fetal Medicine Foundation and to give them money. They seem to be involved with quality assurance for NT measurements / 1st trimester screening. Does anyone have any experience with this organization? Who does my money go to? Why should I give them money to do something the FMF and NTD labs do for free? I'm trying to justify membership in yet another organization. Thanks.
-- Dave Berck, MD, MPH
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