Fort Sanders Perinatal Center

Fort Sanders Perinatal Center (the "Center") provides a full range of quality healthcare services to women in East Tennessee. The Center specializes in providing obstetrical care to women with high-risk and complicated pregnancies, as well as routine obstetrical/gynecological services to the area. For the last 25 years, the Center has provided comprehensive high-risk pregnancy services and delivered over 26,000 high-risk babies at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center ("FSRMC"). The main office is located at FSRMC with additional offices in West Knoxville, Morristown and Sevierville, Tennessee, to ensure access to OB/GYN care and high-risk pregnancy services without the need to travel to downtown Knoxville. The Center partners with East Tennessee Children's Hospital ("ETCH") to provide complete care for women and their babies. Through our collaboration with the neonatologists at ETCH, we can provide emergent care and medical services for infants, including a neonatal intensive care unit, neonatologists and a comprehensive newborn nursery.The Center provides care to those in need regardless of method of payment or ability to pay. During 2024, 48% of the Center's patients were covered by TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, under which costs exceed reimbursement. In 2024, the Center had over 118,000 office visits and performed 3,365 deliveries.SERVICEThe Centers' OB/GYN specialists participate with deliveries at FSRMC and receive transports from other hospitals in the area with pregnant patients experiencing a complication requiring a higher level of care.Multiple gestations, advanced maternal age, or pregnancies experiencing problems with the fetus are considered to be high-risk pregnancies. In addition, medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or other medical or genetic conditions can create complications relating to pregnancy and delivery. The Center physicians use a team approach for all patients that includes a combination of Sonographers, Nurse Practitioners, Genetic Counselors, Diabetes Educators and Perinatologists. Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing are performed to evaluate the health of babies in utero and to check for birth defects. While most babies are born healthy, a small number (1%) are born with major birth defects, and 3 to 4% are born with birth defects that may be caused by genetic, environmental or other factors. Three genetic counselors are available to provide guidance about different screening and diagnostic testing options unique to the mothers' needs. Our genetic counselors have master's degrees in genetic counseling, are licensed by the State of Tennessee Division of Health-Related Boards and are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. They have extensive knowledge in human genetics, genetic disease, patterns of inheritance and birth defects. They also are trained in counseling skills to help deal with critical decision-making and the emotional effects of a genetic disease.High-resolution ultrasounds are performed by a team of sonographers have experience ranging from 5 to 30 years in obstetric imaging and are certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. This certification is not required for all sonographers, but the team at Fort Sanders Perinatal Center is dedicated to expertise in women's health by maintaining required and elective certifications and staying informed of the latest advances in imaging techniques.In addition, our sonographers have specialized training and certification for early detection of chromosome anomalies and fetal anatomical abnormalities using a procedure known as Fetal Nuchal Translucency/Nasal Bone Assessment. This first-trimester ultrasound is performed at approximately 12 weeks of pregnancy. They also are certified to perform Maternal Cervical Assessment to aid in prevention of early delivery and miscarriage that otherwise may not be detected.Our team was the first obstetrical ultrasound department in Knoxville to be accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine ("AIUM") in 1996. This is important because AIUM develops educational guidelines and protocols in imaging for medical professionals that ensures our sonographers and physicians are performing obstetrical ultrasound techniques above and beyond the standard of care. We are currently one of the largest maternal-fetal medicine imaging labs in East Tennessee.Many women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy and require diabetes counseling. This occurs when a hormone made by the placenta keeps the body from using the insulin as it should. Blood sugar (glucose) then builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells in the body. Diabetes educators employed by the Center help with pregnancies complicated by diabetes or nutritional deficiencies. Since 1995, Fort Sanders Perinatal Center's Diabetes Program has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association. We are 1 of 4 programs in Knoxville with this recognition and the only OB program with this designation. COVENANT HEALTHFort Sanders Perinatal Center is a member of Covenant Health. Covenant Health is a community-owned, clinically integrated healthcare enterprise dedicated to being the region's premier healthcare network through service, community, and innovation. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our region through better health. Covenant Health provides patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strives to be the first and best choice for the communities we serve. Established in 1996 by the consolidation of Fort Sanders Health System, Knoxville, Tennessee, and MMC HealthCare System in Oak Ridge, Covenant Health is governed by a voluntary board of directors composed of community leaders and medical professionals. With more than 11,000 employees, affiliated physicians and volunteers, Covenant Health is the Knoxville area's largest employer and has been named a top employer by Forbes and Becker's Hospital Review. Covenant Health serves a 25-county area and includes nine acute care hospitals in East Tennessee: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City, LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown, Roane Medical Center in Harriman, Claiborne Medical Center in Tazewell and Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. It also includes Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center. Peninsula provides behavioral health services at an inpatient hospital in Blount County and at outpatient locations in Knox, Blount, Loudon, and Sevier counties. The health system includes Covenant Medical Group, which serves patients at more than 90 office and clinic locations. CMG providers include primary care physicians and specialists in areas such as cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, surgery, and other medical specialties. Covenant Health employs nearly 450 physicians and advanced practice clinicians throughout East Tennessee. Affiliated organizations include Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Thompson Oncology Group, Fortress Corporation and Subsidiaries, Covenant HomeCare, and Fort Sanders Perinatal Center. Covenant Health also operates Thompson Proton Center and offers innovative services such as Advanced Care at Home. Philanthropic organizations include Covenant Health Foundation and Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation in Knoxville, Methodist Medical Center Foundation in Oak Ridge, Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation in Sevierville, and Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation in Morristown. Funds raised by the foundations provide services, equipment and other resources to enhance patient care.Fort Sanders Perinatal Center, as a member of Covenant Health, benefits from collaboration among all affiliated organizations to promote quality, patient safety, and excellence in delivering care.