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Palisades Medical Center Opens Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department
Approximately 30% of women experience a pregnancy-related complication before, during or after delivery, according to the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine.
(North Bergen, NJ)
Palisades Medical Center has officially opened the doors on its new Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department to provide parents and their babies with comprehensive care during pregnancies.
Palisades Medical Center’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department consists of a highly trained support staff including a Board-certified perinatologist, high-risk nursing staff, sonographers with expertise in obstetrics, and an experienced administrative staff. The new Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department also features 4-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound technology to deliver the best diagnostic information available.
“Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department will offer the expertise, compassion, and medical leadership that has defined and guided Palisades Medical Center for nearly 30 years,” said Bruce J. Markowitz, President and CEO of Palisades Medical Center. “Until now, many women experiencing high-risk pregnancies had to travel outside of our local community for services. Now, parents-to-be that come to Palisades can feel confident in knowing that they will receive world-class care in our Birthing Center and in the new Maternal Fetal Medicine Department should complex problems arise.”
The opening of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department comes shortly after the Birthing Center at Palisades received a perfect 5-Star Rating from Healthgrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings company. The Birthing Center at Palisades features hotel-like suites, state-of-the art technology, and first-rate specialists.
The following services will be available at Palisades Medical Center’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Department:
Consultations
• Prepregnancy
• Perinatal
Diagnostic evaluations
• First trimester screening, which has a detection rate of 91% of Down’s syndrome pregnancies at a 5% false positive rate, and a detection rate of 98% of Trisomy 18 pregnancies at a 1% false positive rate.
• Genetic ultrasound
• Doppler velocimetry
• Biophysical profiles
• Nonstress testing
• Amniocentesis
• Ultrasound 3D and 4D capabilities
Genetic testing/counseling
Management of medical conditions, such as:
• Preterm labor
• Preeclampsia (toxemia)
• Recurrent pregnancy loss
• Multiple gestation
• Fetal growth restriction
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Infectious diseases
• Diabetes and other endocrine disorders
• Kidney or gastrointestinal disease
Fetal surgery and treatment
Education and support services
Maternal-Fetal Transport Program
“For a pregnant woman, nothing is more important than the health of her baby,” said David L. Principe, MD, FACOG, Director of the new Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department. “At Palisades Medical Center, women experiencing medical or obstetrical complications can find the comprehensive care, treatment and reassurance they need. Whether the diagnosis is diabetes, hypertension, multiple births or other conditions, the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department at Palisades will provide extensive treatment throughout a woman’s pregnancy, as well as perform the area’s most advanced ultrasound and prenatal diagnostic procedures, including amniocentesis.”
Advanced technology will also play a vital role within the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department.
“Our state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment provides 4-D imaging capability, enabling both the patient and staff to clearly view the fetus,” said Dr. Principe. “This not only allows the medical team to provide a more accurate diagnosis, but it also gives the mother a deeper understanding of her and the baby’s status.”
The new ultrasound equipment that will be featured in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department is GE’s Volusion 730 – the world’s first ultrasound system capable of true volume ultrasound in real-time. “GE’s Volusion 730 is among the most trusted women’s healthcare systems in the world and Palisades Medical Center is one of the only hospitals in our area that has this breakthrough technology,” said Dr. Principe.
About David L. Principe, MD, FACOG
David L. Principe, MD, FACOG, has been recruited to launch the Palisades Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department. Dr. Principe was trained at Yale University School of Medicine, Fellowship trained at the University of Chicago & Medical Center, and has been in practice for over ten years. Dr. Principe has also been active in research, published in medical journals, and has held several teaching positions. He will be leading a team of maternal-fetal specialists including expert sonographers, perinatal nurses, genetic counselors, and skilled nutritional advisors.
About Palisades Medical Center
Palisades Medical Center is a regional hospital located in North Bergen, NJ, serving a population of 350,000 in Hudson and Southern Bergen Counties. The hospital is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and operates the 202-bed Medical Center as well as The Harborage, a 245-bed rehabilitation center and nursing home.
