Telemedicine in Maternal-Fetal Medicine

 

Presented by Robert M. Abrams, MD, MBA – Director of Obstetrics – South Central IL Perinatal Center and Executive Director – SIU Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

 

 

Many pregnant women in central and southern Illinois have a difficult time obtaining routine prenatal and high-risk obstetrical care due to geographical constraints.  Furthermore, more and more hospitals are discontinuing maternity services, making the distances even greater, thus creating “obstetrical deserts.”  By utilizing telemedicine, women have increased access to prenatal care and high-risk consultations which will have led to optimal outcomes for both moms and their babies.  This conference will allow the attendees to better understand the regionalization of prenatal care in Illinois and appreciate the ways telemedicine helps bridge the distance gap for these women.

 

 

-          Understand the challenges of providing high-risk obstetrical care throughout the South-Central IL Perinatal Network

 

-          Review how SIU Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has expanded its program through the use of telemedicine

 

-          Acknowledge the many benefits of telemedicine in providing high-risk obstetrical care

Abrams, MD, is the Director of Obstetrics for the South-Central Illinois Perinatal Center. He is also the Executive Director and Professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at SIU School of Medicine. Abrams earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained his medical degree from Rush Medical College. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Illinois-Chicago Medical Center and served as Administrative Chief Resident in his final year of residency. Following this, Abrams was in private practice in general OB-GYN for two years. He then pursued a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Loyola University.