Upmc Maternal Fetal Medicine

Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology

Upmc Maternal Fetal Medicine is a Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology practice in Harrisburg, PA with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in caring for women with complicated or high-risk pregnancies. Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetricians & Gynecologists at Upmc Maternal Fetal Medicine perform prenatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies; helps manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in mothers-to-be, checks for birth defects, genetic disorders, heart problems, and blood disorders in developing babies; monitors labor and delivery; manages a mother's post-pregnancy conditions. Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology is the treatment and management of high-risk pregnancy. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology practices include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, seizure disorders, blood clotting disorders, or infections. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Maternal & Fetal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology practices include prenatal ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, umbilical cord sampling, or emergency surgery.

An obstetrician/gynecologist who cares for, or provides consultation on, patients with complications of pregnancy. This specialist has advanced knowledge of the obstetrical, medical and surgical complications of pregnancy and their effect on both the mother and the fetus. The specialist also possesses expertise in the most current diagnostic and treatment modalities used in the care of patients with complicated pregnancies.

Physician Assisting

A physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and is practicing within the scope of that license. Physician assistants are formally trained to perform many of the routine, time-consuming tasks a physician can do. In some states, they may prescribe medications. They take medical histories, perform physical exams, order lab tests and x-rays, and give inoculations. Most states require that they work under the supervision of a physician.

Genetic Counseling

Upmc Maternal Fetal Medicine is a Genetic Counseling practice in Harrisburg, PA with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in counseling and medical genetics. Genetic Counselors at Upmc Maternal Fetal Medicine perform preimplantation testing, predictive testing, carrier testing, prenatal testing, newborn screening, and diagnostic testing. Genetic Counseling is the process used to determine the risk of inherited disorders in families. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Genetic Counseling practices include developmental delay, cleft lip or palate, autism, cystic fibrosis, achondroplasia, Down syndrome, and cancer. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Genetic Counseling practices include reviewing a patient's family history, explaining test results and treatment options, helping families to make decisions, providing emotional support, communicating with laboratories, writing consultation letters, collaborating with health care providers, and conducting research.

A masters trained health care provider who collects and interprets genetic family histories; assesses the risk of disease occurrence or recurrence; identifies interventions to manage or ameliorate disease risk; educates about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, ethical issues, resources, and research; and counsels to promote informed choices and adaptation. Certification was established in 1993 by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and prior to that by the American Board of Medical Genetics. Requirements for experience, licensure, and job responsibilities vary among the states.