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Hi Alan
I work at the Latrobe Hospital (in the Latrobe Valley). We also have a midwives clinic - run 2 days a week. There are about 6 midwives involved and we try where we can to book the women on the clinic's that we run. They still end up seeing 2 or 3 midwives and while there's no guarantee we'll see them in labour, the odd's are better than if they hadn't come to the clinic at all (still a long way from perfect). The women seem to enjoy the woman to woman chats, a friendly face to ask the 'not so important' or 'silly' questions. Not having to wait up to 2 hours is also a bonus. We do 'real antenatal education' compared to the standard 3 minute obstetric appt, encourage birth plans etc. We are seeing really good results (ie, low intervention etc with these particular women). The clinic has been going 2 years and now the doctors involved, now refer their own low risk women to us. In a small town, women also talk amongst themselves so we are always getting calls enquiring about how they can join (they need a referral). I don't see why you couldn't advertise your services in the medical centres, MCHN clinics (new mums can tell their friends), day care centres and the like. We also tell them about the clinic at their booking in appt in the main hospital. Word will get around. We're yet to offer caseload but working on it also. Like Andrea pointed out, advertise what you can offer (perhaps complementary to what they are already receiving so not to ruffle any feathers) and I am sure it will look pretty good alongside what they are currently getting. The more women who receive midwifery care the better in the long fight for improved maternity servives!!!
Kim
-------Original Message-------
Date: 7/08/2005 2:31:17 p.m.
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Midwives clinic
Alan are you offering continuity of carer or an alternative to the obs
and then they still get a different midwife in labour.
In Echuca they started a midwife clinic that offers shared care b/w the
GP/obs and the midwife clinic but it in fact means that instead of
having their antenatal care by one person they now have it by at least
three. And then they just get who ever in labour as well.
If you are offering continuity of carer then this is what you can sell
and it will be attractive to the women. Otherwise sell the things you
are offering that they dont get from the Ob. On time appointments,
longer appointments etc. In the country the bush telegraph is still the
best source of information so get women talking about it and a mail out
to known pregnant women, notices or poters in child care centres,
kindergartens etc saying 'Do you know someone who is pregnant tell
them about the new choices that they have"
Good luck but keep pushing for a caseload if you dont have one its great
ANdrea Quanchi
On 07/08/2005, at 11:16 AM, Alan Rooney wrote:
> Advice needed
> I work in a small hospital in western NSW and we are about to start a
> Midwives clinic. The 2 obs in town are supporting us in this venture
> but I
> need some suggestions on how to inform the women of the town why they
> should
> choose the Midwives clinic and not visit the obs surgery, but I would
> like
> to do this without offending the obs. I would like to put this
> information
> in a pamphlet in all the Docs surgeries in the town. Any ideas would be
> appreciated.
> Also if anyone has research articles on this subject I would appreciate
> them.
>
> off list email
>
> Thanks
> Alan.
>
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