Establishing a Fetal Center in a Freestanding Pediatric Hospital

Abstract

Advances in antenatal imaging have allowed early and accurate diagnosis of many fetal anomalies. This, together with the increasing understanding of the natural history of many fetal diseases, has opened the door to the possibility of offering timely fetal interventions in progressive or life-threatening conditions with the intention of improving perinatal outcomes. These interventions can occur at an adult hospital with obstetrical services (with or without pediatric care) or at a freestanding pediatric hospital. In this article, we provide an overview of the approach to develop a comprehensive fetal care center in a freestanding pediatric hospital. Services included prenatal consultation, advanced diagnostics, innovative fetal therapy, research, and special delivery services. We also review the importance of continuous improvement in achieving this goal.