The Center for Children and Women team recently cut the ribbon on a new infusion clinic at the Southwest location, catering specifically to iron-deficient pregnant patients. Nearly 13% of the Center’s expecting mothers have low hemoglobin levels upon admission for delivery, putting them at higher risk of needing blood transfusions post-delivery and extended hospital stays.
These patients are currently referred to Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women for a three-dose Venofer (iron sucrose) treatment. Considering the added stress of traveling, finding/paying for parking and arranging childcare, many patients have a hard time complying with the treatment regimen.
“We want to provide as many services as we possibly can to our Center patients right here in their community,” said Director Jennifer Dalton, who led the pilot initiative. “We did a lot of research and preparation to ensure we’d be safe and ready…I want to especially thank the Simulation Center, along with the Centers’ education team, for preparing a simulation that helped us iron out our workflow and practice the response to an infusion reaction.”
Iron deficiency is associated with many adverse pregnancy outcomes including increased maternal illness, low birth weight, prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction. This new addition to The Centers will make a big difference in the number of patients that will be compliant in receiving all three Venofer infusions.
“It’s so convenient to come to this location instead of having to go to the Medical Center,” said an OB patient from the Center’s other location in Greenspoint. “I was nervous for my first visit, but now that I see how it’s done, I feel comfortable.”
The next phase is to open an infusion clinic at Greenspoint, which is slated for this summer. Click here to learn more about The Center for Children and Women.