Integrated Care Center for High Risk Pregnancy and Neonate: An Analysis of Process and Problems in Obstetrics / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

The medical environment of obstetric field has been deteriorated seriously, which is caused by sharply declined birth rates and several other causes in Korea. Inversely, the prevalence of high risk pregnancy is continuously going to explode, and human resources and facilities in delivery unit are still in shortage. It is greatly needed to be reinforced, but rather diminished substantively. Finally, maternal death rate of Korea has been extremely increased. It is time that the policies for treatment of high risk maternity in national level, no more leave the situation unchanged. The integrated care system which treats high risk maternity and neonate sequentially is very important in their disease characteristics. It is sure that the integrated management of high risk pregnancy and neonate can make an important role in the improvement of perinatal and maternal death rate and maternal-neonatal health care. Therefore, Ministry of Health and Welfare made a policy that establishes 'Integrated Care Center for High Risk Pregnancy and Neonate' for high risk maternity and neonate. It is supposed to start from four centers as a demonstration project in 2014, and will finally establish 17 centers in 11 broad territories of the country in 2017. It will accomplish a task of emergency center, and carry out treatment and emergency operation at all times. In addition, it will take the roll of emergency transfer system, data collection and analysis, and preventive management service through public education and relations. In the future, Integrated Care Center will play an important role in improving maternal health care as well as obstetric infrastructure.