Humber River Hospital has opened a new Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic that will provide care for women experiencing higher-risk pregnancies, and for women who wish to become pregnant who may have underlying health barriers. In the past, high-risk patients needing consultations had to travel to places like St. Michael’s Hospital in downtown Toronto, often taking several buses to a single appointment.

Now with the opening of the new clinic, patients who live in Humber River Hospital’s community will have access to these high-risk consultations closer to home.

The new Clinic at Humber is opening with the expertise and support of the entire fetal medicine team at St. Michael’s Hospital, and will act as a service to each patient’s existing caregivers, including their obstetrician, family doctor, or midwife.

The new Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic that will provide care for women experiencing higher-risk pregnancies, and for women who wish to become pregnant who may have underlying health barriers.

“We are there to provide information to ensure a healthy outcome for mother and baby,” says Dr. Howard Berger, an OBGYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist from St. Michael’s. “I’m excited that by bringing these services to Humber River Hospital’s catchment area, more patients will be able to receive this care in their home environment.”

The types of consultations offered by Humber’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic will be dependent on a number of factors. Patients who have medical conditions requiring specialized care may benefit from a consultation before they get pregnant. Appointments requiring detailed ultrasounds with a technician and a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist will happen in person, while some consultations may be able to happen virtually.

The care offered at the Clinic will become increasingly multidisciplinary, with the goal of bringing in other specialists from Humber River Hospital as required for an individual patient’s needs and desired birth plan.

“We’re very open to how the Clinic at Humber will evolve,” says Dr. Berger. “Working with higher-risk pregnancies is rewarding when there’s a good result, and guiding families through harder outcomes is equally important. We’re proud to be bringing these services to Humber.”