[Problems in early pregnancy require special care: 'early pregnancy units'].
Problems in the first trimester of pregnancy frequently occur. Examples are miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and recurrent miscarriage. In Dutch hospitals there is a growing interest in the setting up of 'early pregnancy units' (EPUs). The aim of these EPUs is to improve the quality of care for women with early pregnancy problems by centralising the care and knowledge available. This centralisation could prevent over- and underdiagnosis and over- and undertreatment. Moreover, EPUs could improve the logistics of clinical research. The potential effectiveness of these units in the Netherlands still needs to be investigated.
Goddijn
Mariëtte
M
Academisch Medisch Centrum Amsterdam, Centrum voor Voortplantingsgeneeskunde, afd. Verloskunde en Gynaecologie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.goddijn@amc.nl
de Jager
Fleur
F
Kaaijk
Eugenie M
EM
van der Veen
Fulco
F
Ankum
Willem M
WM
Hajenius
Petra J
PJ
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000517:prevention & control; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*