The Value of Implementing Multidisciplinary Perinatal Care Conference in the Private Practice Setting

• Main Authors: Robert C. Johnston, Sina Haeri, Richard T. Hale, William Lindsley, Annette McCormick, Eric Su
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 2017-10-01
• Series: American Journal of Perinatology Reports
• Subjects: multidisciplinary; perinatal; care conference; high risk; fetal
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0037-1608640

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of multidisciplinary (Multi-D) perinatal care conference (PCC) implementation in the private practice setting. Methods After the initial 12-month period following implementation of the monthly PCC by private maternal–fetal medicine and neonatology practitioners, conference attendees were asked to completed a modified version of the Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale, involving 19 questions assessing their attitudes and opinions toward Multi-D team care on a five-point Likert's scale. Results Of the 51 average attendees to the PCC, 82.3% completed the survey. A majority of respondents agreed that Multi-D team care resulted in improved care for patients and family, was not overly complex to coordinate, and resulted in significant job satisfaction and improved medical knowledge. Conclusion Multi-D care is an effective approach to the complicated needs of maternal–fetal medicine patients which may lead to improved patient and family outcomes, high provider satisfaction, and can easily be implemented and utilized within a private practice or community hospital setting.