The mission of the maternal referral program is to provide the most advanced inpatient care to high-risk pregnant mothers in a 19-county region of Central Texas. The maternal referral program is staffed by two practices, Women Partners in Health at Seton Medical Center Austin and the UTMB OB/GYN program at University Medical Center at Brackenridge as well as Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists at each facility. These physicians have extensive experience in the management of high-risk obstetrical complications such as premature rupture of the membranes, premature labor and preeclampsia.
Inpatient care for high risk patients is provided at one of two facilities within our network. Both Seton Medical Center Austin and University Medical Center at Brackenridge have immediate access to Level 3 sophisticated neonatal units staffed by neonatologists specializing in the care of babies born prematurely or with complex medical programs (often identified antenatally). There is ample support staff, including nurses, educators, nutritionists, case managers, pastoral care and social workers who are specially trained to assist in caring for complicated pregnancies in a compassionate and caring environment.
This provides an invaluable resource to referring obstetricians, particularly for those who practice in smaller community based hospitals with few resources to handle complex perinatal complications which can substantially affect both mothers and babies. In utero transport of babies at risk for premature delivery to tertiary care facilities has been shown to significantly improve the overall perinatal outcomes for deliveries.
Seton Family of Hospital’s three NICU’s are located at University Medical Center at Brackenridge, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMCCT) and Seton Medical Center Austin. Opened in 2007, DCMCCT is a state-of-the art hospital dedicated solely to the care of children. We also have a Level 2 NICU located at Seton Northwest Hospital for babies whose condition is determined to be less critical.
Referring physicians and hospitals have access to the high—risk referral services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our High Risk OB Care and Neonatal Transport Hotline 866-453-5477.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the