2015 VA ACNM, VMA, VA ACOG Joint Statement on Collaboration

“Virginian women want multiple options for quality prenatal care and birth for their children. Our organizations, the VMA, the Virginia Affiliate of ACNM, and the Virginia Chapter of ACOG are committed to promoting collaborative relationships and practice environments among all providers to ensure that happens through an entire system of care. These collaborative, open relationships among providers will promote quality outcomes for mothers and newborns, or, in the simplest terms, happy and healthy moms and babies.”

Team-Based Care  

ACNM endorsed and assisted with the development of Collaboration on Practice: Implementing Team-Based Care which was published by ACOG in 2016. This toolkit is a resource for local practices, institutions, and regional and state leadership to coordinate and improve team-based care between midwives and physicians.

Every person needs a team.

 “Team-based care is the provision of health services to individuals, families, and/or their communities by at least two health care providers who work collaboratively with patients and their families—to the extent preferred by each patient—to accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve coordinated, high-quality care.”

 “Collaboration is a process involving mutually beneficial active participation between autonomous individuals whose relationships are governed by negotiated shared norms and visions. Collaboration is necessary for a team to function optimally…”

“…the integrated team-based approach represented in this document is one in which health care providers should be able to practice to the full extent of their education, certification, and experience,…”

The full document can be downloaded here.

This document has been endorsed by 19 organizations including: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American College Health Associations, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), American College of Nurse-Midwives (CNM), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG), American College of Physicians (ACP), American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Society of Physician Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA), Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Institute for Patient and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC), National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), Pacific Business Group on Health, Society for Physician Assistants in Pediatrics (SPAP)

ACNM+ACOG Joint Statement of Practice Relations Between Obstetrician-Gynecologists and Certified Nurse-Midwives/Certified Midwives

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Download the Collaboration in Practice Implementing Team-Based Care pdf below

Collaboration in Practice Download

Abstract

Studies have shown that effective inter-professional collaboration can improve health outcomes in maternity care. However, there is currently a perceived lack of effective collaboration between maternity care providers in the state of Virginia, specifically between obstetricians (Ob-Gyns), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). Research assessing how to improve relationships between these professions can improve outcomes for mothers and babies in Virginia. For this qualitative-quantitative study, informational interviews were conducted with leadership representatives from each organization (n=3) which informed the development of a survey administered to 1,398 Ob-Gyns, CNMs, and CPMs via email listservs for the professional organizations of each group; the Virginia Chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the Virginia Midwives Alliance. The goals of the study were to assess the current state of interprofessional collaboration between the groups, specifically addressing the attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs among each group regarding the other, and what barriers exist that prevent the groups from working together. Data were analyzed using appropriate qualitative (thematic analysis) and quantitative approaches. Results indicated varying levels of satisfaction among the professional groups, highlighting communication, autonomy, and trust as significant barriers to collaboration. While barriers between Ob-Gyns and CNMs appear to stem primarily from personal and organizational issues, differences between Ob-Gyns and CPMs present a more significant issue regarding differing views on birth and medical care as a whole.