Tag: mfm

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2025 conference at the Gaylord Rockies, January 27–February 1, brought together thought leaders, researchers, and clinicians to discuss the latest advancements in AI, clinical informatics, telemedicine, and maternal health equity. AS Software was proud to be part of the conversation as an exhibitor, where we engaged with industry professionals and gained valuable insights into the future of MFM care delivery.

Here are the key takeaways from the most impactful sessions at this year’s event.

Bringing AI and Informatics into MFM Workflows

The Luncheon Roundtable: Practical Tips for Incorporating AI and Clinical Informatics Into an MFM Practice explored how AI and informatics enhance documentation, clinical decision-making, and workflow efficiency.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM):

NYU‘s 11,000-patient RPM program actively manages 3,000 patients at any time, improving maternal glycemic control and reducing preeclampsia and neonatal hyperglycemia.
AI-driven predictive modeling is helping providers proactively identify high-risk patients and intervene earlier.

AI in Documentation & Billing:

AI solutions are streamlining clinical note reconciliation and automating denial letters, saving valuable time for providers.
NYU has also introduced a HIPAA-compliant ChatGPT platform to assist in clinical decision support and research.

Change Management for AI Adoption:

Melissa Wong, MD (Cedars-Sinai) highlighted principles from the book “Switch” (Heath & Heath) to drive adoption of AI-driven workflows.
The key? Find the feeling, shrink the change, and rally the herd—emphasizing incremental improvements, peer learning, and leadership buy-in.

Action Items for Practices:
✔ Pilot AI-generated clinical notes and orders.
✔ Align AI initiatives with institutional goals to drive adoption.
✔ Work with IT to integrate CGM data into the EHR and predict glucose trends.

Addressing Maternal Health Deserts

The Quenching the Gap in Maternal-Fetal Health Deserts session tackled the pressing issue of maternity care facility shortages in rural areas.

The Crisis:

35% of U.S. counties lack birthing facilities
Over 1,100 counties in the U.S. are without a single birthing facility in their country.
1 in 12 women in the U.S. are affected by Maternal Health Deserts
Impacting 7 million women and 500,000 babies.
200 rural hospital closures in the past decade have forced patients to travel long distances for maternity care.
By 2030, the number of obstetricians is expected to decrease by 7% while demand is projected to increase by 4%

Contributing Factors to Maternal Health Deserts

Geographic isolation
Economic barriers
Work Force shortages
Cultural/language barriers

3 Proposed Solutions:

Diversifying the Perinatal Workforce: Expanding collaboration between family medicine physicians, midwives, and OB-GYNs.
Specialized Transport Teams: The Stork 1 team (University of Texas San Antonio) demonstrated how high-performance transport teams reduce risks for high-risk pregnancies in rural areas. States like New Mexico, are awarding an annual rolling $4 million grant for programs like these.
Telemedicine & Remote Ultrasound: Virtual visits, remote monitoring, and AI-assisted ultrasound are closing care gaps in underserved regions. Practices like Dr. Ruma’s group in New Mexico have used teleultrasound to expand access to care, increasing patient visits from 0 to 5,000 in three years.

Action Items for Practices:
✔ Partner with family medicine and primary care providers to extend maternity care in rural areas.

✔ Create networks that improve continuity and training rural obstetricians.
✔ Develop a telemedicine and RPM blueprint to expand access.

✔ Advocate for policies supporting family medicine’s role in maternity care.

Community Engagement to Improve Perinatal Outcomes

Another key theme at SMFM 2025 was bridging healthcare gaps through community involvement.

Birth Equity Initiatives:

A July 2021 initiative increased social determinants of health (SDOH) screening from 17% to 100% in hospitals.
Strategies included standardizing race/ethnicity data and building stronger patient-provider relationships.

Doulas & Community Partnerships:

Tennessee’s doula training program has improved maternal health literacy, trust, and patient outcomes.
Hospitals are exploring ways to integrate doulas into clinical teams through targeted training and policy updates.

Action Items for Practices:
✔ Implement SDOH screening in labor & delivery.
✔ Build partnerships with community organizations for better referrals.
✔ Train nurses & staff on doula collaboration.

Obstetric Innovation That Transcends Care Settings

The Philips-sponsored symposium with Perinatal Associates of New Mexico explored how technology is transforming obstetric care across rural and urban settings.

Telemedicine Expansion:

Ouma, a telehealth company, provides midwifery and behavioral health services to underserved areas, improving maternal health outcomes.
The growth of remote non-stress tests (NSTs) is making antenatal surveillance more accessible and affordable.

AI-Powered Ultrasound:

AI applications in ultrasound automation are reducing scan time, increasing accuracy, and improving workflow efficiency.
Future innovations aim to combine CGM data with ultrasound imaging to predict persistent diagnoses.

Action Items for Practices:

✔ Explore AI-powered solutions to automate ultrasound protocols.
✔ Expand telemedicine services for perinatal care.
✔ Engage with patient communities to understand their digital health needs.

Looking Ahead: How AS Software is Supporting These Advancements

AS Software is committed to supporting MFM providers by delivering cutting-edge ultrasound automation, AI-driven workflow efficiencies, and telemedicine-friendly reporting solutions.

Remote Diagnostic Access: AS Software enables real-time, cloud-based ultrasound reporting, reducing the need for in-person visits.
Seamless AI Integration: Our system integrates with EHRs and AI-powered documentation tools, improving efficiency and billing accuracy.
Scalable Solutions for Rural Care: Our vendor-neutral, cloud-hosted solution supports telemedicine and remote diagnostics, ensuring patients in maternal health deserts get the care they need.

Want to learn more? Connect with our team to discuss how we can help your practice elevate MFM care.

Sources SMFM 2025 Sessions:

Engaging Communities to Improve Perinatal Outcomes

Chair: Ann EB Borders, MD, MPH, MSc (she/her/hers) – Endeavor Health, Evanston Hospital

Chair: Ebony B. Carter, MD (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina

Chair: Rolanda Lister, MD (she/her/hers) – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Practical Tips For Incorporating AI and Clinical Informatics Into An MFM Practice

Roundtable Leader: Hye J. Heo, MD (she/her/hers) – NYU Langone Health System

Roundtable Presenter: Melissa S. Wong, MD, MS (she/her/hers) – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Obstetric Innovation that transcends care settings

Industry Session Presenter: Michael Ruma, MD, MPH – Perinatal Associates of New Mexico

Industry Session Presenter: Sina Haeri, MD, MHSA – Ouma Health

Industry Session Presenter: Richie Broth, MD – TLC PERINATAL

Quenching the Gap in Maternal Health Deserts

Roundtable Leader: Alixandria F. Pfeiffer, DO – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Join the AS Software Team at Booth 723

January 27 — February 1, 2025

Join us as we connect with leaders and decision-makers shaping the future of obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine. This event is your opportunity to explore groundbreaking ultrasound technology that enhances both your work and your patients’ care, all while connecting with colleagues from around the globe. To learn more and register, visit the SMFM 2025 event site.

Experience Ultrasound, Automated.

Visit us at Booth 723 to explore how a smarter, automated, ultrasound platform can streamline your workflow to increase productivity across the enterprise. Experience live demos showcasing how automation enhances patient care while simplifying image management, reporting and billing.

Reduce your manual workload
Capture crucial data points with less errors
Report results faster
Improve billing and claims success
Integrate seamlessly with your EHR and other radiology systems

Find a time to meet with us using the calendar below. We’re excited to not only showcase our platform, but discuss some of our latest enhancements, including:

Automated Coding and Billing: Reduce errors and simplify administrative tasks with dynamic billing automation.
Enhanced Authentication and Authorization: Improve security with a streamlined login experience.
Professional Services Packages: Tailored offerings to maximize the value of your investment.

Select a Time at Booth 723:

Meet the Team

Poornima Gopalakrishnan

CEO

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Derek DellaVecchia

RDMS, RDCS, RVT, RMSR

Sr. Account Executive

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Mark Scott

Executive Director, Business

Development & Alliances

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Stephanie Gunter

Vice President,

Marketing

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Aaron Wimer

PMP, Vice President

Client Services

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Nicole Wosje

Vice President

Product

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Kerry Faulk

BS, RT(S), RDMS, RRDCS

Clinical Solutions

Manager

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Melanie Young

RDMS OBGYN, CLEAR, NT

Clinical Consultant

Connect with Melanie

The demand for integrated clinical software has never been higher. For maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) practices, these solutions aren’t just nice to have—they’re becoming essential. These tools help streamline workflows, enhance patient outcomes, and ultimately, raise the overall quality of care provided.

Why Integration Matters in Perinatal Care

Maternal-fetal medicine is a highly specialized field, that requires a lot of coordination between healthcare providers to ensure the best outcomes for both mom and baby. Traditional systems often involve tools that don’t communicate effectively, leading to fragmented care, inefficiencies, and even potential risks for patients. This is where integrated clinical perinatal software comes in. It offers a seamless connection between different parts of the healthcare ecosystem.

Integration matters because it synchronizes data across systems like electronic health records (EHR), ultrasound imaging, lab results, and more. When these systems communicate effectively, MFM practices can access comprehensive patient information in real-time, reducing the likelihood of errors and ensuring accurate care decisions based on the most up-to-date information.

How Integration Improves Workflow Efficiency and Accuracy

One of the most significant benefits of integrated clinical perinatal software is how it streamlines workflows. In a typical MFM practice, doctors, sonographers, nurses, and other providers must collaborate closely, but often have to juggle multiple platforms to access the information they need. This can be time-consuming and prone to mistakes.

With an integrated system, providers can work within a single, unified platform. For example, when an ultrasound is performed, the images and data are automatically uploaded to the patient’s EHR, allowing immediate access to all relevant information. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors associated with manual data entry and cross-referencing between different systems.

The Power of Integration in Ultrasound Reporting

Ultrasound reporting is a critical part of perinatal care, providing detailed visual and quantitative data that guide clinical decisions. In traditional systems, ultrasound data is managed in a separate system from the patient record, which can create bottlenecks in accessing this vital information. Integrated clinical perinatal software changes that by bringing ultrasound data directly into the main patient management system, offering several advantages:

Automatic Data Transfer: Ultrasound images and measurements are automatically transferred into the patient’s electronic health record (EHR), eliminating manual uploads and reducing the risk of data loss or transfer errors.
Real-Time Access: Providers can access ultrasound data right away, allowing for quicker diagnosis, which is particularly important in high-risk pregnancies where timely intervention can make a significant difference in outcomes.
Enhanced Collaboration: Multiple Providers can view and discuss ultrasound findings simultaneously, regardless of their location, fostering better collaboration and more coordinated care.
Faster Reporting: Automatically populate ultrasound reports using standardized templates, saving time and ensuring consistency and compliance with clinical guidelines.
Improved Data Analytics: Combining ultrasound data with other patient information enables advanced analytics that can reveal trends in patient care, leading to better management of high-risk cases and improved outcomes.

Better Patient Outcomes Through Connected Care

Integrated clinical perinatal software doesn’t just help healthcare providers; it also has a positive impact on patient outcomes. With all relevant data at their fingertips, clinicians can make more informed decisions, leading to more personalized care.

For instance, if an ultrasound shows a potential issue, the integrated system can alert the clinician in real-time, allowing them to take action. This proactive approach is crucial in perinatal care, where early detection and intervention can make a big difference in the health of both mother and baby.

Also, integrated systems often include patient portals that allow expectant mothers to access their medical information, appointment schedules, and educational resources. This empowers patients to take an active role in their care and improves the patient-provider relationship.

The Growing Market for Clinical Perinatal Software

According to Global Market Insights, the clinical perinatal software market is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2032, driven by the increasing adoption of advanced technologies in maternal-fetal medicine. This growth is fueled by the number of pregnancy-related complications and the growing government initiatives and awareness regarding fetal care.

The report highlights that the demand for integrated solutions, especially those that incorporate ultrasound reporting, will continue to rise as healthcare providers look to improve clinical outcomes while reducing costs. For MFM practices, investing in integrated clinical perinatal software isn’t just about keeping up with trends—it’s about future-proofing their operations and delivering the highest standard of care.

Meeting the Demand

The rising demand for integrated clinical perinatal software is driven by the need for efficiency, accuracy, and improved outcomes in maternal-fetal medicine. Practices that adopt these integrated solutions will be better positioned to handle the challenges of modern perinatal care.

At AS Software, we understand the unique needs of MFM practices and have designed our solutions to support seamless integration across all areas of perinatal care, including advanced ultrasound reporting. For over three decades, we’ve been committed to providing our clients with the most advanced tools, enabling them to provide the highest quality of care.

As the demand for integrated clinical perinatal software continues to grow, it’s clear these solutions are the future of maternal-fetal medicine. Practices that embrace this technology will not only improve their operational efficiency but also enhance the quality of care they provide, leading to better outcomes for both mothers and babies.

In a recent webinar, Caleb King, Director of Customer Engagement at AS Software, and Dr. Michael Ruma, President of Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, shared their experiences and strategies for leveraging data to enhance healthcare practices. The discussion highlighted the journey from reactive to proactive data usage, emphasizing the significant impact on patient outcomes, staff efficiency, and overall business growth.

Setting the Stage: The Importance of Data in Healthcare

Caleb King opened the session by emphasizing the critical role of data in achieving healthcare objectives. He highlighted that, whether the goal is to streamline operations, improve patient outcomes, or drive business growth, the foundation lies in benchmarking current performance and continuously measuring progress. By understanding where you stand today, you can make informed decisions and track the impact of changes over time. Caleb then introduced Dr. Ruma, who has been integrating data analytics into his maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) practice since 2008, transforming it into a more efficient and patient-focused operation.

Dr. Ruma’s Journey with Data Integration

Dr. Ruma shared his journey of joining Perinatal Associates of New Mexico when it was a smaller practice with three offices and 30 staff members. Through data-driven decisions and process improvements, the practice has grown significantly, now boasting five MFM physicians and over 130 team members, including 17 advanced practice nurses, four genetic counselors, and 36 sonographers.

Key to this growth has been the strategic use of business data alongside medical data. By understanding patient demographics, referral patterns, and operational efficiencies, Dr. Ruma’s practice has been able to make informed decisions that drive growth and improve patient care.

Overcoming Barriers to Proactive Data Use

One of the challenges Dr. Ruma highlighted is the lack of business training for healthcare professionals. He emphasized the need to move beyond traditional medical training to understand financials, data analysis, and operational efficiencies.

Dr. Ruma shared how Perinatal Associates initially struggled with time-consuming processes, using unstandardized data, like manually typing ultrasound reports. Partnering with AS Software in 2013 helped automate these processes, resulting in an 86% reduction in report creation time, saving their clinicians over 23 hours a week. This time-savings allowed the practice to see more patients and improve overall efficiency.

CASE STUDY
Perinatal Associates of New Mexico Decreases Ultrasound Documentation Time

Learn More

Implementing Standardized Protocols

Dr. Ruma also discussed the implementation of standardized ultrasound protocols. By using electronic checklists on ultrasound machines, the practice was able to reduce the time spent on each exam by 9 to 10 minutes. This not only improved operational efficiency but also enhanced the quality of patient care by allowing more time for complex cases.

Read more on this published research: Ruma MS, Bradley H, Holstrom A, Rigdon J, Herring A. Obstetric Ultrasound Efficiency and Accuracy Using a Protocol-Based Examination. J Ultrasound Med. 2016;35(3):565-569. doi:10.7863/ultra.15.03075

The Role of Business Intelligence Tools

A significant part of the webinar focused on the use of Microsoft Power BI, a business intelligence tool that aggregates data from various sources into a visual, real-time dashboard. This tool has been instrumental in helping Perinatal Associates monitor key performance metrics, track patient volumes, and make data-driven decisions.

Dr. Ruma’s top three reports:

Total Patient Visits – overview of the total number of patients seen, helping to gauge overall practice growth and capacity.
Visits by Location – aids in understanding market penetration and identifying areas with growth potential.
Service Line Performance – evaluates service lines overtime to understand how to optimize service delivery and expand offerings.

Dr. Ruma illustrated how Power BI enabled his practice to identify opportunities for new services and locations, ultimately leading to growing patient visits by over 30% in 10 years. For instance, real-time data analysis supported the decision to open a new office in Las Cruces and expand mental health services for pregnant patients.

Proactive Data Usage: A Path to Continuous Improvement

The journey from reactive to proactive data use has allowed Perinatal Associates of New Mexico to anticipate changes, improve patient care, and enhance operational efficiencies. Dr. Ruma emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adapting, using data not just to react to issues but to proactively identify opportunities for improvement.

Closing Thoughts: Where to Begin and How to Get Help

Caleb King concluded the webinar by encouraging healthcare professionals to start by identifying specific business problems and leveraging data to address them. He stressed the importance of partnerships with EMR providers, software vendors, like AS Software, and internal staff to achieve success. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making, healthcare practices can enhance their efficiency, patient care, and overall success.

Embrace the Power of Data

The insights shared by Caleb King and Dr. Ruma demonstrate the transformative power of data in healthcare. By moving from reactive to proactive data use, healthcare practices can achieve significant improvements in patient outcomes, staff efficiency, and business growth.

To learn more about how to embrace data analytics, standardize processes, and leverage technology to unlock the full potential of your practice, watch the webinar on-demand .

Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH, Physician Partner & President

Dr. Michael S. Ruma, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist, prioritizes caring for high-risk pregnancies. He trained at Creighton University and the University of North Carolina, where he also earned a Master of Public Health. Joining Perinatal Associates of New Mexico in 2008, he expanded the practice and integrated telemedicine, significantly enhancing patient care.

Caleb King, Director of Customer Engagement

Caleb King, a Six Sigma Black Belt, with over a decade of experience building results-driven relationships, has a deep understanding of meeting customer needs with efficiency. At AS Software, Caleb coordinates complex healthcare projects, and is passionate about making a positive impact by delivering value with ongoing expertise and optimization.

Dr. Michael Ruma, MD, MPH, FACOG is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist for Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, a leader in outstanding high-risk pregnancy care. Watch as he shares how AS Software helped his practice grow and thrive while saving valuable time previously spent on ultrasound documentation.

Challenge

Manual Fatigue and Reporting Burdens

Without an automated ultrasound reporting system in use, clinicians at Perinatal Associates of New Mexico were limiting time with patients to manually type ultrasound reports and locally print them. The inefficient ultrasound documentation process was a large time burden hindering growth at the practice.

Solution

Reporting Efficiency and Automation

Dr. Ruma engaged AS Software to help drive efficiency by automating and organizing the reporting and review process:

Allowing all images to be easily accessed remotely, from anywhere in the world
Efficiently creating high-quality, succinct reports for referring providers that are easy to read
Quickly faxing and sending information through integration with Greenway EHR

Quote

“A dramatic amount of growth happened over the last decade because AS Software allows us to be highly efficient and organized, with great connectivity to electronic medical records.”
Dr. Michael Ruma
President, Perinatal Associates of New Mexico

Results

Increase in Patient Study Volume with Decreased Ultrasound Documentation Time

AS Software automation significantly reduced the time required to create an ultrasound report from 5-7 minutes to 30-60 seconds. This efficiency enabled the practice to expand services, accommodate more patients, and establish additional offices and satellite sites. In the first year alone, the practice increased its study volume while reducing documentation time by 86%*.

Quote

“We were able to move through the day faster and more efficiently, which allowed us to see more patients and ultimately achieve financial improvement,” noted Dr. Ruma

In the first full year of using AS Software, Perinatal Associates of New Mexico experienced a 23% increase in patient volume, resulting in a $315,000 increase in practice revenue.

Dr. Ruma and the team at Perinatal Associates of New Mexico continue to partner with AS Software to optimize their healthcare practice, achieving significant improvements in staff efficiency, business growth, and patient outcomes.

Learn more about reducing ultrasound documentation time with automation: Get a Demo

*This percentage is determined conservatively by taking the higher end of the initial timeframe—7 minutes, or 420 seconds—and comparing it to the higher end of the post-automation time of 60 seconds. By subtracting the post-automation time from the pre-automation time, dividing by the pre-automation time, and multiplying by 100, we find that each report now takes 360 seconds less to complete, multiplying savings across each report and significantly increasing the practice’s efficiency.