Midwives, doctors, and nurses together deliver better patient care

TORONTO, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - A partnership between the Association of Ontario Midwives and the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is helping midwives, doctors and nurses work together to deliver better patient care. A full-day conference on Tuesday September 28, 2010 and an updated reference guide - Resource Manual for Sustaining Quality Midwifery Services in Hospitals - have been developed to assist midwives, doctors and nurses in working together to deliver better patient care.

Designed for both hospital leaders looking to integrate midwives for the first time, as well as those who already have midwifery at their institution, the manual provides examples of existing integration models and lessons learned.

"Mothers and their newborns will definitely benefit from having more, and better, interprofessional collaboration among their caregivers. That's why the OHA supports integrating midwives into Ontario's hospitals, and believes that midwives are an important part of the maternity care system, alongside their physician and nurse colleagues. This manual can help maternity care teams improve and sustain positive working relationships, which will promote safer, high-quality care," said Tom Closson, President and CEO, OHA.

On September 28, the conference titled Maternal and Newborn Care: Meeting Community Needs and Integrating Midwives will not only highlight hospitals leading in maternity care integration, but will also offer tips to maximize provider competencies, and information on liability issues associated with integration. Speakers include Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care lead on maternal and newborn care Dr. Charlotte Moore and Association of Ontario Midwives President and Registered Midwife Katrina Kilroy.

"Whenever I give a presentation on interprofessional collaboration, be it at hospital rounds or at interprofessional events like this, it is always well received. Learning about one another's roles and responsibilities creates better understanding amongst disciplines and opens the door to improving the way we all provide care to women and newborns," said Kilroy.

Currently, there are over 500 midwives in Ontario attending approximately 10% of births. Midwives serve communities in more than 70 clinics across the province and have privileges at most Ontario hospitals. Since 1994, more than 100,000 babies have been born under midwifery care, including more than 23,000 births at home.

Midwives provide care throughout pregnancy, labour and birth as well as the first six weeks following the birth to both mother and baby. Midwifery care is paid for by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is free to clients. Midwives are registered after graduating from a four-year university education program at Ryerson, McMaster or Laurentian Universities.

The Association of Ontario Midwives is the professional organization representing midwives and the practice of midwifery in the province.

For further information:

or to set up interviews, please contact:

Joanna Zuk
Senior Communications Officer
Association of Ontario Midwives
Tel: [phone] x2261
Cell: 416-704-7452
[email protected]