Regional One Health is using a $3 million grant the hospital received from the Tennessee Department of Health to make high-risk pregnancy services available for families living in rural West Tennessee communities who otherwise would not have access to maternal fetal medicine.

The grant will be used to create and implement our Stork 901 program that will make high level prenatal care more accessible and equitable

Stork 901 will offer a number of services including highly detailed ultrasounds, management of chronic conditions, consultations through telehealth, and referrals when needed for women facing high-risk pregnancies.

The funds from the grant will be used to purchase two mobile obstetrics imaging units that will provide access to advanced prenatal screenings. Highly-trained sonographers will identify any birth defects or abnormalities in the screenings for patients in targeted areas in over 20 rural West Tennessee counties including McNairy, Obion, Hardeman, Tipton, Haywood, Weakley, Henry, Hardin, and Crockett.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to elevate obstetric care for families living in rural areas in targeted communities in West Tennessee. It will have a huge impact on improving outcomes for moms and babies,” said Kerri Brackney, MD, who specializes in maternal fetal medicine at Regional One Health and is an assistant professor in the College of Medicine – Memphis at UTHSC.

Dr. Brackney says West Tennessee has the lowest detection of congenital heart defects in the state. She says the specially trained sonographers who will be using the advanced detailed anatomy ultrasound technology aboard the mobile units will be able to identify fetal congenital heart defects sooner.

This program will allow patients to remain close to their homes which makes it easier for families to stay together and avoids additional costs of staying in another community.