About Us
Background
The Nuchal Translucency Quality Review is an outgrowth of efforts begun in late 2002 by the Society for Maternal – Fetal Medicine (SMFM).
The SMFM began to investigate strategies to better assure that Nuchal Translucency measurements across the United States were accurate and
reproducible and that there would be broad input to the program and procedures by leaders in the field from interested specialties including Obstetrics,
Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Radiology.
To facilitate the establishment of consensus educational content, procedures, and ongoing communication among leaders in the field
across the United States, a Nuchal Translucency Oversight Committee (NTOC) was established. This
group of volunteers includes experts in first trimester risk assessment and representatives from seven professional societies.
The NTOC advised that an independent foundation, the Maternal–Fetal Medicine Foundation (MFMF), now the Perinatal Quality Foundation (PQF),
should be established to promote the educational and quality review goals in development. MFMF was established in December 2004 as a not-for-profit organization with an independent
Board of Directors. The mission of the PQF is broad and includes the establishment and maintenance of the Nuchal Translucency Education and Quality Review Program (NTQR).
Additional committees evolved as the program developed. There are now over 40 volunteers including OB/GYNs, radiologists, MFMs,
geneticists, osteopathic OB/GYNs, genetic counselors, laboratory representatives, and sonographers participating regularly as committee members,
reviewers, and board members. These volunteers represent a variety of practice settings, geographical locations, and interests. Our goal is to provide an open
forum to address the mutual needs and concerns of prenatal clinical care providers and diagnostic laboratories.
The NTQR is a consensus national education and quality review program that is open to all providers of first trimester risk assessment
regardless of specialty. The NTQR credentials and monitors both physician sonologists and non-physician sonographers.
Perinatal Quality Foundation Mission Statement
To improve the quality of Maternal – Fetal Medicine clinical services by providing state of the art evidence-based educational
programs and statistically valid monitoring systems to evaluate current practices and facilitate the transition of an emerging technology into clinical care.
Organizations Represented on the NTOC (2005-2011)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG)
- American College of Radiology (ACR)
- American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
- National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)
- Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
- Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)
|