On November 17, 2011 Dr. Braden Hexom presented research organized by Mount Sinai and conducted at JFK Hospital in Liberia. The project,
Evaluation of Novel Obstetrics Ultrasound Curriculum for Local Healthcare Providers in Liberia
Bentley S, Hexom B, Nelson BP
described a novel ultrasound curriculum developed in concert with providers in Liberia after a needs assessment and analysis of various use models of ultrasound deployment in the area.
It was determined that among the highest-yield applications of point-of-care ultrasound was pregnancy evaluation, especially during the third trimester. According to the United Nations Population Fund, Liberia’s rate of maternal mortality is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (994 per 100,000 live births). Increasingly international organizations such as WINFOCUS have lauded ultrasound as a means of empowering patients and providers in under-resourced areas and improving the quality of care delivered.
A great presentation by Alberta Spreafico (Outreach and International Development Program Coordinator at Henry Ford Health Systems) highlights this topic in an eloquent and inspiring fashion. See below for her TED talk!