The Pediatrix® and Obstetrix® Medical Group Reports Surge in Critically Ill Pregnant Patients with the COVID-19 Delta Variant
October 05 2021 - 5:09PM
Business Wire
Nation’s leading provider of specialized
maternal care is treating an influx of high-risk patients with
severe COVID-19 illness; Urges pregnant women to get vaccinated
The Pediatrix® and Obstetrix® Medical Group, affiliates of
Mednax®, Inc. (NYSE: MD) and leading providers of maternal-fetal
medicine (MFM) and obstetric (OB) services, reports that its
affiliated clinicians are treating more pregnant women critically
ill with COVID-19 than at any point in the pandemic. Pregnant
patients remain largely unvaccinated, despite a strong endorsement
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM).
Obstetrix comprises nearly 550 clinicians who provide
specialized maternal care through 1,900 MFM visits and more than
400 attended deliveries daily in over 300 facilities across the
country. The national network of MFM specialists,
obstetrician-gynecologists and OB hospitalists are collaborating to
share experiences and improve outcomes for critically ill pregnant
women and their unborn babies.
“Nationwide, we are seeing a troubling number of sick patients
who have been adversely affected by the Delta variant, most of whom
are unvaccinated,” said Alan Fishman, M.D., MFM specialist and
specialty medical officer. “The patients we treat are high-risk to
begin with, so to add severe COVID-19 infection on top of that,
typically requiring hospitalization and sometimes admission into
the intensive care unit for respiratory support, has resulted in
some truly dire situations, including maternal death and premature
birth.”
As a leader in clinical research, Mednax-affiliated clinicians
regularly publish studies related to the care of women and
children. Early on in the pandemic, the research team studied the
effect COVID-19 could have on pregnant women, and this continues to
be monitored. The team has also examined the effects of COVID-19 on
neonatal intensive care units. In addition, non-Mednax studies are
regularly monitored and shared through multispecialty forums for
clinician discussion.
“A new study on COVID-19 severity in pregnant women in India
shows that the Delta variant was identified in India as early as
last December,” said Reese Clark, M.D., vice president of clinical
research for the Mednax Center for Research, Education, Quality and
Safety. “It swept rapidly through that country and Great Britain
before reaching the U.S., where it is now the predominant variant.
This report provides valuable insights about what we are seeing in
our practices and allows us to anticipate adverse events and
implement preventative strategies.”
Mednax strongly supports the CDC, ACOG and SMFM vaccine
recommendation. “We urge all of our patients to get vaccinated, as
early on in their care as those who are trying to conceive and not
yet pregnant,” said Brian Gilpin, M.D., OB hospitalist and
specialty medical officer. “The Delta variant is making pregnant
women notably sicker, and severe illness is preventable. We now
have the data that validates the safety of the vaccine, which also
protects babies with vital antibodies. The risk of life-threatening
complications from infection is far greater than the risk of
vaccination.”
To learn more about Mednax’s maternal-fetal and obstetric
services, visit Obstetrix online. For the latest information about
Mednax and women’s and children’s health care topics, read the
Mednax blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT MEDNAX
Mednax, Inc. is a national medical group comprised of the
nation’s leading providers of physician services. Physicians and
advanced practitioners practicing as part of Mednax are reshaping
the delivery of care within their specialties and subspecialties,
using evidence-based tools, continuous quality initiatives,
clinical research and telehealth programs to enhance patient
outcomes and provide high-quality, cost-effective care. The Company
was founded in 1979, and today, through its affiliated professional
entities, Mednax provides services through a network of more than
2,300 physicians in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Additional
information is available at www.mednax.com.
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Jennifer Gutierrez Corporate Communications 954.384.0175 ext.
5684 jennifer_gutierrez@mednax.com
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