e Note: The following categories are
general definitions of professional relationships and responsibilities between
midwives and other healthcare practitioners. They are independent from the
topic of physician supervision as mandated by the LMPA.
A. Consultation is the process by which a midwife, who maintains primary management responsibility for the woman's care, seeks the advice of another health care professional or member of the health care team. These discussions may occur in person, by electronic communication or by telephone and may include other professional midwives as well as physicians and specialists in other healthcare discipline.
B. Consultation or informal peer review with another Midwife:
When significant concern about the well being of mother and/or baby
arises from an identified risk, variation or deviation from norm or a potential
complication, the midwife shall, if possible, initiate a discussion with
another experienced midwife or a physician familiar with home-based birth
services in order to discuss the relevant options and plan care appropriately.
C. Formal Peer Review: Some consultative situations are encountered frequently by midwives and lend themselves to peer-group decisions made a priori by the professional midwives who regularly attend a formal geographical peer review (or other experienced midwives and/or physicians who regularly confer with one another, either by phone or in person).
1. These specific recommendations should be memorialized in writing in the peer review attendance log, a journal or other form of documentation specific to the peer review process.
2. Whenever a peer group or experienced midwife’s recommendations apply to a client’s specific circumstance, the primary care Midwife need not consult with another professional again unless there are new or additional factors. Peer review recommendation resulting in specific decisions or actions should be documented in the client's chart.
D. Collaboration is the process in which a midwife and a health care practitioner of a different profession jointly manage the care of a woman or newborn who needs joint care, such as one who has become medically complicated. The scope of collaboration may encompass the physical care of the client, including delivery by the midwife, according to a mutually agreed-upon plan of care. If a physician must assume a dominant role in the care of the client due to increased risk status, the midwife may continue to participate in physical care, counseling, guidance, teaching, and support. Effective communication between the midwife and the health care professional is essential to ongoing collaborative management.
E. Referral is the process by which a midwife directs the client to a health care professional who has current obstetric or pediatric knowledge and is either a physician licensed in the United States; or working in association with a licensed physician. The client and the physician (or associate) shall determine whether subsequent care shall be provided by the physician or associate, the midwife, or through collaboration between the physician or associate and midwife. The client may elect not to accept a referral or a physician or associate's advice, and if such is documented in writing, the midwife may continue to care for the client according to his/her own policies and protocols.
F. Transfer to Medical Care: Due to a serious medical condition of the client or the client’s newborn, the midwife relinquishes primary care under non-urgent circumstances to another health care professional who has current obstetric or pediatric knowledge and is either a physician licensed in the United States, or working in association with a licensed physician.
1. If the midwife is unable to transfer to a health care professional, the client will be transferred to the nearest appropriate health care facility. The midwife shall attempt to contact the facility and continue to provide care as indicated by the situation.
2. If a client elects not to accept a transfer of care, the midwife shall terminate the midwife-client relationship.
G. Transport via ambulance or EMT-staffed paramedic vehicle to a medical facility equipped and staffed to provide acute medical care (hospital or substation) due to an immediate obstetrical or pediatric emergency:
1. If emergency transport is required during labor, delivery, or the immediate postpartum period and the client refuses, the midwife shall call 911 and provide further care as indicated by the situation.
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