In hospitals across the country, OBHG clinicians deliver lifesaving care every single day. Their around-the-clock presence ensures that all obstetrical patients receive immediate, unbiased care.
Today’s story focuses on OBHG Site Director Dr. Joanne Williamson and how she delivered life-saving care to a patient with HELLP syndrome.
Summary:
OBHG Hospitalist Dr. Joanne Williamson was on a busy shift when a patient came to the obstetric emergency department. The patient was sent to the OBED from her private obstetrician with concerns about high blood pressure and upper abdominal pain. (She had visited the emergency room earlier that day with pain in her upper abdomen. She was treated for heartburn and sent home. She wasn’t feeling any better, so she went to see her OB.)
Dr. Williamson ran some lab work and the patient’s results came back consistent with a condition called HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome is a dangerous condition that can happen during pregnancy where patients’ platelets (or liver enzymes) which help them manage blood clots can be elevated and along with high blood pressure can put the patient’s pregnancy and baby at risk.
They were able to diagnose it quickly, confer with their Maternal Fetal Medicine partners who agreed that they should proceed with delivery.
Watch Dr. Williamson’s story to learn more about the emergency delivery.
“I think this story really shows the value of having an OB hospitalist physically present on labor and delivery. Because as OBHG says, we do OB, and we are acutely attuned to the signs that a mom’s health might be in danger. Whereas it’s more difficult for regular emergency departments to sometimes pick up on these symptoms. The symptoms were very similar to those of heartburn, which of course is not a dangerous condition and is very common in pregnancy. But it also can be a sign of something that is much more severe. I feel that having us on site allows us to not only identify these dangerous conditions quickly, but it also lets us communicate between the different teams and the patient’s provider quickly about what’s going on so we can provide a safe delivery for mom and baby if needed.”