BWH partners with MCHS to develop unique fetal program

Experts from BWH will partner with MCHS to provide recommendations related to the development of the program, including establishing a high-risk-fetal labor and delivery unit at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, slated to open in 2017, as well as guidance on clinical protocols and opportunities for training and education.

"Brigham and Women's Hospital is a leading provider of fetal and newborn care, including the diagnosis and treatment of newborn babies with complex medical issues," said Dr. M. Narendra Kini, CEO at MCHS. "We are eager to bring their expertise to Nicklaus Children's Hospital with the goal of developing a comprehensive and patient-focused facility for women with high-risk-fetal pregnancies and their babies."

"We are driven by our mission to provide high-quality patient- and family-centered care to communities here in Boston, across the nation and around the globe," said Steven Thompson, senior vice president and chief business development officer at BWH. "Miami Children's Health System, its Nicklaus Children's Hospital and BWH share a commitment to improve the health of mothers and their babies, and I'm confident that our collaboration will have a meaningful impact on the patient care available to families in South Florida."

BWH has one of the most advanced women's health centers in the world committed to the discovery, dissemination, and integration of knowledge on women's health, including obstetrics and gynecology and newborn medicine. Terrie Inder, MD, PhD, an internationally respected clinician and researcher, is the chair of the Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine at BWH.

"As a newborn medicine specialist, I consider it a privilege to care for the tiniest patients and their families," said Inder. "I look forward to sharing the expertise available at BWH with my colleagues at MCHS to create a program that will offer comprehensive care for pregnant women who have challenging fetal diagnoses."

Following an in-depth site assessment, BWH will advise MCHS on issues related to the development of the physical plant, including key decisions about equipment and technology. BWH will also offer recommendations about standardizing care models and clinical protocols and arrange for opportunities to participate in joint fetal conferences via telemedicine. Additionally, patients and researchers at MCHS will have the opportunity to participate in BWH clinical trials and other research initiatives.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital is ranked in multiple categories by U.S. News & World Report in its 2015-16 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings, including 13^th in neonatology and seventh in neurology and neurosurgery. In addition, the hospital has three nationally recognized intensive care units, a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), which provide state-of-the-art services to patients referred from all over the world. All three Nicklaus Children's Hospital intensive care units have received Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, with the NICU and PICU achieving Gold Awards and the CICU receiving a Silver. Beacon Awards laud U.S.-based hospital critical care units that demonstrate use of evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes.

"This relationship between BWH, MCHS, and Nicklaus Children's Hospital demonstrates a commitment to the families of South Florida to offer ease of access to unparalleled high-quality tertiary and quaternary newborn labor and delivery care," said Michael Davis, MPH, MBA, senior vice president of strategy, business development and innovation at MCHS. "Ultimately the goal through this partnership is to afford pregnant mothers delivering high-risk newborns the best possible outcome for their child as he or she enters the world."