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The Evolving Role of Midwives as Laborists
Author(s) -
DeJoy Susan A.,
Sankey Heather Z.,
Dickerson Anissa E.,
Psaltis Audrey,
Galli Amy,
Burkman Ronald T.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of midwifery and women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1111/jmwh.12350
Subject(s) - certification , nurse midwives , nursing , nurse practitioners , medicine , work (physics) , health care , obstetrics and gynaecology , medical education , political science , pregnancy , mechanical engineering , biology , law , genetics , engineering
This article examines the history and present state of the midwife as laborist. The role of the midwife and obstetrician laborist/hospitalist is rapidly evolving due to the need to improve patient safety and provide direct care due to reduced resident work hours, as well as practice demands experienced by community providers and other factors. Models under development are customized to meet the needs of different communities and hospitals. Midwives are playing a prominent role in many laborist/hospitalist practices as the first‐line hospital provider or as part of a team with physicians. Some models incorporate certified nurse‐midwives/certified midwives as faculty to residents and medical students. The midwifery laborist/hospitalist practices at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, are presented as an example of how midwives are functioning as laborists. Essential components of a successful midwife laborist program include interdisciplinary planning, delineation of problems the model should solve, establishment of program metrics, clear practice guidelines and role definitions, and a plan for sustained funding. This article is part of a special series of articles that address midwifery innovations in clinical practice, education, interprofessional collaboration, health policy, and global health.