PHI History | POPRAS History | Contact PHI
History of Perinatal Health, Inc.
Comprehensive Informatics for Perinatal Health, Inc. (CIPHI) has developed and currently offers state-of-the-art perinatal risk assessment record-keeping forms.
CIPHI's products are based on the expertise of Dr. Irwin R. Merkatz (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY) and Dr. Calvin J. Hobel (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA). They have been physicians involved in the development and evaluation of perinatal risk assessment systems for over twenty years, resulting in state-of-the-art products based on extensive clinical experience and research.
POPRAS - A Problem Oriented Perinatal Risk Assessment System (since 1975)
In 1969, Dr. Calvin J. Hobel developed the concept of a continuum of perinatal (prenatal, intrapartum, and newborn) risk assessment for the identification and management of high-risk pregnancies to prevent newborn morbidity and mortality. Early efforts focused on the importance of various factors as contributors to poor pregnancy outcomes, and the value of early identification and intervention as keys to prevention. To facilitate this process, Dr. Hobel developed the Problem Oriented Perinatal Risk Assessment System (POPRAS), in the early seventies. POPRAS is a detailed medical record with components for prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care.
In 1974, Dr. Irwin R. Merkatz and his team adopted POPRAS as the uniform medical record for the Cleveland Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Perinatal Regionalization Project. Dr. Merkatz created a revised "Cleveland" POPRAS record to meet the unique needs of obstetrical care providers in Cleveland. Since then, Doctors Hobel and Merkatz have worked with healthcare professionals to continually refine the record.
The POPRAS Perinatal Risk Assessment System is used widely in the United States. Numerous studies and programs of perinatal patient care use POPRAS as their basis for risk assessment. The most recent study of the impact of systematic and timed risk assessment, focused on prematurity prevention in Los Angeles, reports results showing a dramatic improvement in pregnancy outcome with an associated reduction in overall costs. The study was headed by Dr. Hobel and used the POPRAS system and methodology as an integral component of patient care and risk assessment.
How To Contact Perinatal Health, Inc.
Our Address:
Perinatal Health, Inc
3016 Saint Michael Lane
The Villages, FL 32162
Office Telephone: (352) 259-7266
FAX Number: (352) 259-7255
Customer Service / Order Line: (800) 562-4456
Customer Service e-Mail:
Copyright 2007 Perinatal Health, Inc.