Hello midwives!

Please help us get the word out about our bill.

We have uploaded a few important documents for you to view and share. The first is a document containing research for SB1237 and the second is a SB1237 factsheet.

In addition there are three letters of support for you to pass out to your colleagues and coworkers. They are written for CNMs, MDs, and RNs.

Please help get these support letters out to members of our community.

View these documents here!

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Autumn Burke, D- Inglewood, today announced legislation to improve access to high-quality maternity care in California.  The proposal, sponsored by the California Nurse-Midwives Association and Black Women for Wellness, also would curb disparities in outcomes for black women and infants and counter the obstetrician shortage – projected to be critical in some counties by 2025. “California is the fifth-largest economy in the world, and no woman in our state should go without top-notch maternity care,” said Sen. Dodd. “By increasing access to nurse-midwives, we can improve outcomes for mothers and babies, especially those in rural or inner-city settings. The disparity in outcomes for women of color is absolutely unacceptable and my bill will help address that disparity.” “Women in California deserve high quality care and the choices in childbirth that nurse-midwives offer,” said Kathleen Belzer, CNMA president. “It is time to remove unnecessary requirements that simply create barriers. The data is clear that the status quo is not serving the lives of women and infants.”

Senate Bill 1237 would expand access to care by authorizing nurse-midwives to conduct routine services without direct physician supervision, following the lead of 46 other states. California’s current model has not been shown to increase the safety or quality of maternity care. States that allow autonomous practice within a more integrated, collaborative model between physicians and midwives show significantly lower rates of cesarean, preterm birth, low birth-weight infants and neonatal death. Nurse-midwives perform 50,000 births a year in California, and Sen. Dodd’s bill will result in more women gaining access.Despite significantly reducing the maternal mortality rate in California, experts from the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative report that black women in California still die at a rate that is 3-4 times higher than white women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Furthermore, babies born to black women were more than three times as likely to die of a preterm, birth-related issue as babies born to white women in 2017. National and international organizations including the March of Dimes and the World Health Organization have stated that improved access to midwives is one of the necessary and innovative strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate racial disparities in maternal and infant outcomes.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has stated that the obstetric workforce crisis cannot be abated without the help of nurse-midwives in a model of integrated, collaborative care. In 2018, ACOG released a new version of their Joint Statement of Practice Relations which highlighted the critical shortages and misdistribution of maternity care providers, and called for autonomous practice for nurse-midwives under a model of team-based care. SB 1237 is being introduced during the World Health Organization’s Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and on the heels of recent statements by leading patient advocacy organizations,  including the March of Dimes, California Health Care Foundation, and the Pacific Business Group on Health, calling for the immediate reduction in regulatory barriers to nurse-midwifery practice and greater investment in California’s nurse-midwifery workforce.

###Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.

Full Scope Midwifery Practice Collaborative practice with OB/GYNs and CNMs Coastal CA - Santa Cruz Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican is a dynamic multi-specialty group with more than 90 providers and is still growing (http://dhmf.org/dominican). We are affiliated with Dominican Hospital, a 250-bed hospital with a Level 3 NICU (dominicanhospital.org/Medical_Services/Family_Birthing_Center). We are looking to add a board certified Nurse Midwife who is interested in a full scope midwifery practice with experienced CNMs. Highlights Include: Collaborative practice, working closely with OB/Gyn colleagues and experienced CNMs Clinic and surgery center conveniently located near the hospital Excellent support staff Facilitating group prenatal visits Sharing call with Group’s (5) CNM’s Requirements: 24 hour In House call at hospital Spanish speaker preferred Why Join Us? Located in sunny Santa Cruz, CA (1-1/2 hours from San Francisco, 45 minutes from San Jose, 50 minutes from Monterey) Generous salary, plus productivity bonus - eligible after one year Sign-on bonus, relocation assistance and bonus - after two years Benefits package includes health insurance, CME stipend, malpractice insurance and matched retirement plan Aligned with one of the largest health systems in the nation and the largest hospital system in California Santa Cruz is known for its beach scene, redwood forests, unique surf and art culture, natural scenic beauty, and friendly and active residents. The weather is mild, with summer temperatures in the mid-70s and winter temperatures in the mid-50s, and the sun shines more than 300 days a year. From the cultural excitement of a world-renowned university and vibrant city, to redwood forests, miles of sandy beaches, and rugged mountains, Santa Cruz is a paradise of contrasts. Downtown Santa Cruz offers a plethora of restaurants and one-of-a-kind shops. In addition, it offers an upscale residential district, historic Victorians, galleries, a modern museum and a vibrant nightlife. There are year-round cultural events for every interest. You and your family will have the opportunity of enjoying this unique paradise of contrasts. Please contact & send CV to: Lori Hart, Physician Recruiter providers@dignityhealth.org 888-599-7787 dignityphysiciancareers.org