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Midwife Edwina Zant,RN, CNM, reads a printout from an electronic fetal monitor, similar to those BWH donated to neighboring community health centers.
Expecting mothers now can access non-stress testing as part of their pre-natal care at six neighboring community health centers, thanks to BWH’s donation of electronic fetal monitors.
“Before, patients from these centers needed to travel to BWH to undergo this test, with some patients traveling quite a distance,” said Miriam Mahler, CNM, MPH, midwife in the Department of OB/GYN, Center for Women and Newborns, and member of BWH’s Health Center Strategy Committee. “Now staff at several community health centers can provide these tests and their patients with peace of mind.”
BWH donated electronic fetal monitors to the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Neponset Health Center, Mattapan Community Health Center, Codman Square Health Center, Upham’s Corner Health Center and South End Community Health Center, where BWH provides on site OB care through the Nurse Midwifery team.
This monitor, which records the heart rate of the fetus on a piece of paper, is an essential tool to assess fetal well-being. Tests take 20 minutes and involve placing two elastic belts around the mother’s abdomen. One belt holds a listening device in place while the other belt holds the contraction monitor.
Previously, patients who lacked transportation to come to BWH often postponed this critical test.
“Having patients wait for this test was a real problem,” said David Acker, MD, chief of Obstetrics in BWH’s Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
BWH’s Health Center Strategy Committee took the initiative to fund and install the monitors. Mahler approached the centers to ask if they could house the monitors to help make patients’ visits convenient and allow the midwifery team to provide more services on site.
For Lindsay White, NP, OB coordinator at Codman Square Health Center, having a monitor on site has meant a time-saver for patients.
“I can’t imagine life without the monitors now,” she said. “Most importantly, the patients are the true winners from this donation, and they benefit from it everyday.”