Gadsden Regional Medical center introduces new technology to improve childbirth safety
The childbirth team at Gadsden Regional Medical Center estimates that they deliver more than 800 babies each year. Now, the team is introducing a new piece of technology that will make those births safer for both mother and baby.
PeriWatch Vigilance is "an artificial intelligence-based maternal-fetal early warning system" meant to "enhance patient safety during labor and delivery," according to a news release from the hospital.
The system's goals are to continuously monitor maternal vital signs, the fetal heart rate, contractions and labor progression as a way to help doctors and nurses identify concerning developments so they can intervene faster.
Dr. Xavier Smith, an obstetrician at Gadsden Regional Medical Center and Women’s Health Partners, said new technology is an important resource to support maternal/fetal health and safe deliveries.
“Every delivery is unique so the health and well-being of every mom and baby is our priority during childbirth,” Smith said. “While most births happen without complication, there are some inherent risks in the delivery of a newborn. This new technology adds another layer of protection throughout the labor process to help our maternity team recognize, prevent and respond to avoidable complications.”
The system also can use pattern recognition that helps them "pinpoint opportunities for overall improvement based on consolidated data from multiple births."
This will allow the GRMC maternity team to review trends and improvement areas much easier. The hospital can then use that data collected to develop new safety protocols that can lead to more favorable outcomes.
“By investing in this technology, Gadsden Regional is making labor and delivery safer for mothers and babies,” said Chief Executive Officer Justin Bryant. “Our physicians and nurses are highly skilled medical professionals and excellent caregivers and they appreciate the use of technology to support their work, especially when it helps keep our patients safe.”
These are not all the changes that have come to GRMC's labor and delivery department over the past few months. Last year, the hospital completed a $1.5 million renovation to the unit, adding four private labor and delivery rooms, six postpartum rooms, a family waiting room, two C-section operating rooms and five triage rooms.
It also recently received received certification from Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care..
To learn more about Gadsden Regional Medical Center childbirth services or to find a physician, visit www.GadsdenRegional.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: GRMC unveils new childbirth technology
