Ochsner to Offer High-Risk Pregnancy Services on Gulf Coast

Ochsner Health System now offers Maternal Fetal Medicine services at its new health center in Biloxi: Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake. By combining perinatal expertise and experience with modern and sophisticated technology, such as virtual physician-to-patient ultrasounds, patients on the Gulf Coast can receive comprehensive, high-risk pregnancy care close to home.

Maternal Fetal Medicine (M.F.M.) physicians, or perinatologists, are subspecialty-trained obstetricians who specialize in high-risk pregnancies to ensure a healthy outcome for the mother and the baby. Moms-to-be with chronic health issues or who face unexpected problems that develop during pregnancy may be referred to perinatologists by their obstetricians.

At Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake, certified, specially-trained M.F.M. ultrasound technicians perform comprehensive fetal ultrasound evaluations to examine the growth and development of the fetus. The images are then read by Ochsner perinatologists, either in person or via virtual physician-to-patient ultrasounds.

During a virtual “tele-M.F.M.” visit, the fetal anatomy scan is reviewed live through a secure feed and remote monitoring technology. Two-way audio-video capability allows the off-site perinatologists to interact and collaborate with the ultrasound technician and the patient to discuss any findings and make any important decisions at that time. Ochsner has an extensive background in telemedicine, including telehealth partnerships across the region for stroke, neurology, and critical care.

Additional services include prematurity evaluation, medical complications such as diabetes, first trimester nuchal translucency assessment, genetic amniocentesis and prenatal genetic counseling. Should a patient require more complex procedures such as fetal spina bifida evaluations, or other fetal interventions, she will be easily referred to Ochsner Baptist’s Women’s Pavilion in New Orleans.

“Our mission is to offer patients specialized OB care closer to home,” said Robichaux, Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Health System who will rotate to Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake on Mondays along with Stephen Fortunato, MD, Director of Obstetrical Telemedicine Services.

For more information on Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake, or to schedule an appointment, please call 228-207-0601.
Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake
1721 Medical Park Drive, Suite 200
Biloxi, MS 39532
228-207-0601