Use of ultrasonography in the home care of high-risk childbearing women.
Antenatally, as more women are being treated in the home setting rather than the hospital setting, diagnostic modalities such as ultrasonographic imaging need to be available for use by the home care provider. In the home setting, the care provider and treatment modalities are brought to the patient, whereas patients managed in the hospital setting must attend the provider site to receive the same services. Without the availability of diagnostic ultrasonography in the home setting, pregnant women who are treated in the home rather than the hospital are required to incur an added financial and physical burden associated with attendance at care. Financially, nonreimbursed out-of-pocket costs incurred by the patient may include costs of transportation, costs of child care, and loss of wages. Physically, patients are prevented from maintaining recommended bed rest and dietary treatment regimens. Ultrasonographic evaluations can be performed safely in the home setting by nurses who have received added educational preparation and ultrasonographic imaging experience, thereby providing the essential care often necessary for women who experience pregnancies complicated by high-risk conditions.
Stringer
M
M
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, USA.
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States