Lower Keys Medical Center Uses New Technology to Enhance Maternal and Fetal Safety

​The childbirth team at Lower Keys Medical Center is now using an artificial intelligence-based maternal-fetal early warning system called PeriWatch Vigilance to enhance patient safety during labor and delivery. The system continuously monitors maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, contractions, and labor progression to help clinicians quickly identify any concerning developments for faster intervention.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center delivers approximately 400 babies each year. Nicole Fisher, Chief Nursing Officer, said this new technology is an important resource to support maternal/fetal health and safe deliveries.
 
“Every delivery is unique so the health and well-being of every mom and baby is our priority during childbirth,” says Fisher.  “While most births happen without complication, there are some inherent risks in the delivery of a newborn. This new technology adds another layer of protection throughout the labor process to help our maternity team recognize, prevent and respond to avoidable complications.”
 
Through pattern recognition, the technology can also pinpoint opportunities for overall improvement based on consolidated data from multiple births. As the maternity team reviews trends and identifies areas where improvement is possible, the hospital can use that information to develop protocols that further increase safety and may lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies.
 
“By investing in this technology, Lower Keys Medical Center is making labor and delivery safer for mothers and babies,” said David Clay, Chief Executive Officer.  “Our physicians and nurses are highly skilled medical professionals and excellent caregivers and they appreciate the use of technology to support their work, especially when it helps keep our patients safe.”
To learn more about Lower Keys Medical Center's childbirth services or to find a physician, visit LKMC.com
 
Lower Keys Medical Center offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at LKMC.com/enewsletter-sign-up. 
 
About: Lower Keys Medical Center is accredited by The Joint Commission in Hospital and Laboratory Programs, and as a Primary Stroke Center. The hospital is also accredited by the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center and by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission in Echocardiography.