WAUKESHA, WI - GE Healthcare, a leading provider of maternal and infant care devices, announced today an innovative clinical education program, designed specifically for physicians, midwives, nurses, residents and students in obstetrics, to enhance their knowledge of fetal heart rate monitoring. GE's Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Interpretation and Management education program, developed in partnership with Frank Miller, M.D., FACOG and David Miller, M.D., FACOG, both leading experts in the field of fetal monitoring, emphasizes the importance of using standardized NICHD terminology to describe, communicate and interpret abnormal fetal heart rate tracings.

Electronic fetal heart monitoring has been in use for 40 years. Yet, until recently there has been no agreement on standard definitions and nomenclature for interpreting fetal heart rate patterns.

"By reinforcing NICHD standardized definitions endorsed by AWHONN, ACOG and ACNM this program gives clinicians the tools they need to increase their knowledge to visually interpret fetal heart rate patterns," said Michael Reed, manager of GE Healthcare's Global Education for Clinical Systems Service. This interdisciplinary education provides a clear path to better communication and increased patient safety."
"This program has managed to integrate the underlying physiology of fetal heart rate interpretation with appropriate use of the NICHD nomenclature, making it an excellent tool for education as well as review. As an electronic fetal monitoring educator, I am always looking for innovative methods to reinforce training in fetal monitoring, and this interactive model is perfect," said Lisa A. Miller, CNM, JD, President, Perinatal Risk Management and Education Services in Chicago.

As identified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the lack of a common language to describe and interpret electronic fetal heart rate patterns has contributed to inconsistent interpretation and management, which can jeopardize patient safety. JCAHO recommended the use of standardized terminology and protocols to communicate and interpret abnormal fetal heart rate tracings.

Language and terminology is standardized, facilitating communication, thus helping to reduce errors and improve patient safety, which may result in better outcomes. This enables the health care enterprise to meet patient safety standards set by JACHO and other accrediting groups.