The Rush Fetal and Neonatal Medicine Program is a newly developed program at Rush University designed to provide specialized, multidisciplinary care for women facing a prenatal diagnosis of a fetal condition. The program brings together a myriad of specialists specifically chosen to meet as a group with parents prior to delivery, review patient cases, exchange opinions and share observations based on their experience and expertise. The team goals are:

•  to accurately diagnose problems as early as possible in utero
•   to assemble well-coordinated, individualized, family-centered treatment plan for each family facing a prenatal diagnosis
• to involve parents in the planning process, as they are able
• to address the parents' anxiety and stress during this critical period, promoting early adaptation, and facilitating fetal attachment 

A unique attribute of the program includes the ability of parents to have ready access to the Rush University family of practitioners and sub-specialties including: Pediatric Cardiology, Neonatology, Pediatric surgeons, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists, specialized Obstetricians, Pediatric Nephrologists, Pediatric Neurologist, Geneticist, and the full scope of disciplines Rush University is noted for.  Ease of access for parents and their family has been created-- they have only one number to call and all appointments and / or questions are answered, day or night.  A fulltime social worker is available to address the family’s needs from housing during their newborn’s hospital stay to working through complicated insurance issues.  Coordination of the myriad of specialists is not the responsibility of the parents, but of the program staff, thus easing their transition through a complex system.  We are reaching out to our families during the most challenging time of their lives.

The presentation of the program and the unique means of providing sensitive care to expecting parents with a prenatally detected fetal condition would provide attendants at the convention the opportunity to delve into what is possible at their facility.