Why Is This Important?

Low birthweight increases the risk for infant mortality and morbidity. As birthweight decreases, the risk for death increases. Low birthweight infants who survive often require intensive care at birth, may develop chronic illnesses, and later may require special education services. Health care costs and length of hospital stay are higher for low birthweight infants.

What Is Being Done?

The Maternal Health Program collaborates with the UNM Maternal & Family Planning (M & FP) and Presbyterian Medical Group perinatologists to provide care to high risk, medically indigent women. These services are provided to patients free of charge through the High Risk Prenatal Care Fund (HRF) at the UNM Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, UNM outreach clinics and Presbyterian hospitals and clinics throughout the State. UNM maintains the Physician Access Line for Service (PALS), providing statewide access to a perinatologist 24/7 for telephone consultations and to arrange transport for patients requiring intensive management at the university, including women in preterm labor. Additionally, UNM Telemedicine offers the High Risk Pregnancy direct patient evaluation, real-time fetal ultrasound analysis and counseling whereby remotely practicing physicians can access specialty services for patients.

This network of care and screening is designed to prevent low birthweight births through specialized care to the mother. These high risk providers are the most likely to anticipate and recognize preterm labor and other conditions where delivery at a tertiary care center is desirable and make appropriate transfers of care to them. Women in premature labor or with other pregnancy related complications may transfer out of the state if another tertiary care center is closer than Albuquerque. Albuquerque has the only two level one neonatal intensive care units in the state. Data on which facilities these women transfer to is not available.