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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
07:51
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
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Addressing medically underserved populations through maternal-fetal transport: a geographic analysis
Joshua I Rosenbloom1, D Michael Nelson1, Scott Saunders2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Summary
Maternal-fetal transport services effectively support underserved hospitals, but analysis reveals opportunities for more efficient deployment of these critical care resources. This study examined transfer patterns to identify areas for improvement in maternal care access. Keywords: maternal-fetal transport, healthcare access, underserved hospitals, care efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Maternal-fetal Medicine
- Healthcare Systems Analysis
- Geographic Information Systems in Healthcare
Background:
- Regionalization of maternal care in the USA necessitates understanding maternal-fetal transport dynamics.
- Contemporary data on maternal-fetal transport characteristics and utilization remains limited.
- Investigating referral and transportation patterns is crucial for optimizing maternal care access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze referral and transportation patterns of a maternal-fetal transport service using geographic analysis.
- To identify characteristics of maternal-fetal transfers, including diagnoses, gestational ages, and hospital origins.
- To evaluate the utilization of maternal-fetal transport in relation to Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of maternal-fetal transfer service call logs.
- Analysis of diagnoses, gestational ages, referring hospital, and mode of transportation.
- Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to analyze transfer frequency, distance, and MUA designations.
Main Results:
- 1682 patients were transferred from 103 hospitals between November 2012 and March 2017.
- Preterm labor (20%) and hypertensive disorders (14%) were the most common diagnoses.
- 44% of transfers originated from MUAs; 7% of transfers came from critical access hospitals.
Conclusions:
- The maternal-fetal transport system demonstrates robustness in supporting underserved hospitals.
- Analysis indicates potential for increased efficiency in the deployment of maternal-fetal transport services.
- Optimizing transport logistics can enhance access to specialized maternal care, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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