Aside from feeling my babies’ kicks, ultrasounds were among my favorite pregnancy experiences. I saw them as precious visits with my little ones, and I definitely didn’t hate the extra ones I had with my daughter due to my “advanced maternal age.” I considered them both a perk and part of my baby’s preventative care, knowing that if anything concerning were to show up–especially at that 18-week anatomy scan–we’d be able to find resources and support to plan for any ongoing treatment or medical care Baby would need. Especially with a world-renowned pediatric hospital like Nicklaus Children’s located right here in Miami.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Prenatal Heart Program
I recently spoke with Fetal and Pediatric Cardiologist Ryan Halickman, MD, and Fetal Cardiology Patient Navigator Jessica Quiñones, BSN, RN, CPN of Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute’s Prenatal Heart Program. The program–which has served our community for over 30 years and has the highest survival rate for pediatric cardiovascular surgery in Florida–exists to meet the needs of families whose pregnancies are at increased risk for heart disease or for babies suspected of having heart disease diagnosed prenatally.
Nicklaus Children’s’ team includes pediatric cardiologists specialized in fetal cardiology, advanced cardiac imaging, cardiac catheterization, and electrophysiology, cardiac intensivists, neonatologists, geneticists, and cardiothoracic surgeons who work collectively with the mother’s OB/GYN throughout the care journey. This means that when a congenital heart issue is suspected or detected, an entire support network offering highly personalized care is immediately available to local families. Like a league of real-life superheroes who understand the complex needs and emotions expectant parents face when they learn their baby may be born with a congenital heart defect.
Accessibility, Services & Treatment
One of the takeaways from my conversation with Dr. Halickman and Mrs. Quiñones was the accessibility of care and services offered. Local OBs regularly refer patients to Nicklaus Children’s Prenatal Heart Program for confirmation ultrasounds, but families can reach out directly to our navigator as well. From the time of initial contact, a patient navigator guides each family through every step of their journey. As a patient navigator, Mrs. Quiñones serves as a point-of-contact, and is available to answer questions and assist with the coordination of appointments and care between specialties and the mother’s physicians as well. From scheduling a fetal echo and initial diagnostics to coordinating appointments, providing patient education, connecting families with surgeons and social workers, and preparing families for delivery and surgery, the patient navigator facilitates a truly cohesive care experience.
Services and treatments offered through the Prenatal Heart Program include:
- Evaluation and diagnosis of fetal heart defects or heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Explanation and counseling about the treatment journey
- Planning of care for the baby’s delivery and post-delivery interventions, if necessary
- Fetal echocardiograms
- Fetal MRI
- Genetic screenings
Your #1 Choice for Prenatal Cardiac Care in Miami
Nicklaus Children’s Prenatal Heart Program provides care to expectant families who are referred for screening evaluations, or due to concerns identified on prenatal ultrasounds. Their team of specialists–including a dedicated patient navigator–is here to support families through understanding the diagnosis and options for their baby’s care post-surgery and be a supportive presence throughout their journey. Their goal is to provide prompt diagnostic evaluation and improve the care of patients before, during, and after birth. And they are ready to see you as soon as possible. Appointments are sometimes even available on the same day!
In addition to the hospital’s main campus, prenatal heart services are available to expectant families at convenient locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties, in the cities of Boynton Beach, Coral Springs, Miami Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm City, West Kendall, and Wellington.
Don’t wait or try to navigate this journey on your own. Nicklaus Children’s believes each and every family deserves the cohesive, balanced, and compassionate approach to care their Prenatal Heart Program has to offer. If you or someone you love is facing a possible prenatal heart concern or diagnosis, make an appointment today!
