Release Date: 03/06/2018

Women & Infants Hospital’s Prenatal Diagnosis Centers in Providence, RI and North Dartmouth, MA have achieved re-accreditation from the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. This accreditation is in the specialties of adjunct detailed fetal anatomic ultrasound level 2 ultrasound studies), and first, second, and third trimester obstetric ultrasound.

The Prenatal Diagnosis Centers achieved this recognition by meeting rigorous voluntary guidelines set by the diagnostic ultrasound profession. All facets of the practice were assessed, including the training and qualifications of physicians and sonographers; ultrasound equipment maintenance; documentation; storage and record-keeping practices; policies and procedures to protect patients and staff; quality assurance methods; and the thoroughness, technical quality, and interpretation of the sonograms the practice performs.

“Ultrasound is one of the most common tests during pregnancy for women who are at high risk or low risk of complications. It is an invaluable tool in obtaining much-needed information about a baby’s anatomy and structure, particularly if there is concern about fetal problems based on other prenatal tests, genetic risks, medication use, or a medical condition,” said Stephen R. Carr, MD, director of Women & Infants’ Prenatal Diagnosis Center and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Diagnostic Imaging. “This accreditation in obstetric and fetal ultrasound is a testament to the talent and commitment to excellence of each and every one of our staff in the Prenatal Diagnosis Center.”

The Prenatal Diagnosis Centers (PDC) offers specialized services, comprehensive screening, and counseling to help pregnant women and their health care providers better understand a potentially high-risk pregnancy. The PDC is staffed by nurses, genetic counselors with master’s degree training in clinical genetics, and obstetrician-gynecologists with further training in maternal-fetal medicine, a sub-specialty of obstetrics that focuses on pregnancies with maternal or fetal problems.