Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hackensack University Medical Center has been developing a program to serve the growing need for the comprehensive care of patients with placenta accreta. Given the significant increase in births by cesarean section each year, which directly contribute to problems with placental formation in subsequent pregnancies, the incidence of placenta accreta will continue to rise, as will morbidity and mortality rates for pregnant women.
We now have established the Center for Abnormal Placentation, under the guidance of Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan, Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Al-Khan has created a multidisciplinary team with specialists from the departments of Anesthesiology, Urology, Vascular Surgery, Radiology, Intensive Care, Plastic Surgery, Neonatology, Nursing, and Pathology. With the experience of over sixty seven cases, pre-delivery diagnosis has been improved and delivery complications have been significantly reduced. We also have two senior research scientists actively working on data collection and outcome analysis. This program has received national attention and has already been featured by several different news outlets. The program is designed to serve as a template for regional, national, and international institutions.
Mission:
The HackensackUMC Center for Abnormal Placentation, the first of its kind, serves the growing need for comprehensive high risk management and care of patients with placenta accreta.
Childbirth - a time of expectant anticipation, bright hopes for new beginnings, but for an increasing number of women it is a time of fear, infirmity, and even death. Maternal mortality is on the rise, with fifty percent of deaths hemorrhage-related. The majority of these hemorrhages are due to abnormalities of placentation. Given the significant increase in births by cesarean section each year, which directly contribute to problems with placental formation in subsequent pregnancies, one can only project higher and higher rates of morbidity and mortality for women having children.
Vision:
The HackensackUMC Center for Abnormal Placentation provides much-needed comprehensive services to women who currently have no other place to go for expert care. This innovative program has been developed and designed to serve as a template for regional, national and international institutions.
Hackensack University Medical Center has the largest volume of deliveries as a single institution in the tri-state area. We also have become a very busy referral center for mothers with special needs.
Patients who have been through our program, who have experienced the terror of facing death at the time of giving birth to new life, have expressed their great gratitude for the outstanding care and compassion they have received at our medical center. Many now serve as patient advocates, assisting other women facing this frightening condition.
The Center for Abnormal Placentation is a haven for women with placental abnormalities, as well as for their obstetricians who already recognize the significant advantages to transferring their patients' care to such a unique, specialized program. HUMC has set the standard for comprehensive abnormal placentation care nationally and internationally.
Contact Us
The Center for Abnormal Placentation is ready to provide your patients with consultative services and to assist you in developing treatment strategies for these complex cases. To schedule appointments please call 551-996-2453. Or email Magdalena Pawlik, APN at MPawlik@HackensackUMC.org
Download the Center for Abnormal Placentation Brochure (PDF Format)