Watson Pharmaceutical Company Allied Health Professional Advisory Board Meeting Chicago, IL Sponsored by Watson Pharmaceuticals Key Issues: Midwives, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and educators attended this meeting to discuss the potential FDA approval of a progesterone vaginal gel intended to be used in women with ultrasound diagnosed with short cervical length. Attended by Cydney Afriat Menihan, CNM, RDMS
New York - Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services Baltimore, MD Sponsored by the New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services (NYMAC) and the Genetic Alliance Newborn Screening Clearinghouse Key Issues: NYMAC assembled provider and childbirth education experts, including PAs, midwives, and nurses from the NYMAC region (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV) to help develop a provider toolkit to better inform women and families about the need for newborn screening, what’s involved, and the importance of follow-up screening. Attended by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice & Health Policy
National Black Nurses Association Annual Institute and Conference Indianapolis, IN Sponsored by the National Black Nurses Association Key Issues: Networking with RNs and nursing students from the US, Africa, and England, and sharing information about the midwifery profession. ACNM member Stephanie DeVane-Johnson presented on "Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Breastfeeding Babies Born to Women of Color." Attended by Stephanie DeVane-Johnson, CNM, MSN
Institute of Medicine Guidance for Establishing Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations Washington, DC Sponsored by The Insititute of Medicine Key Issues: Panelists presented challenges to developing and providing crisis standards of care for maternal and pediatric populations in disasters. Attended by Cathy Ruhl, CNM
JUNE
AARP Solutions Forum: Advancing Health in Rural America: Maximizing Nursing's Impact Webinar Sponsored by National Rural Health Association; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; AARP Key Issues: Examined ways in which nursing can provide solutions and innovation to the critical shortage of nurses in rural health. View the webinar. Attended by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice and Health Policy
3rd National Summit on Preconception Care Tampa, FL Sponsored by CDC, March of Dimes, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs Key Issues: Possibilities for integration of PCC services in the era of health reform. A number of presentations highlighted the work of the clinical practice, policy and consumer working groups of the CDC’s initiative on PCC. See the presentations here. Attended by Cathy Ruhl, CNM, AWHONN Representative to the CDC’s clinical working group on PCC.
MAY
Saving Momsand Defeating the Maternal Health Care Crisis in the United States Briefing on the maternal health crisis within the United States, importance of supporting HR 894, the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011which aims at addressing the current public health emergency and human rights crisis that mothers are currently facing. Attended by Eileen Beard, CNM, FNP, MS, ACNM Senior Practice Advisor
Institute of Medicine Workshop on Allied Health Workforce and Services There has been little progress to formalize and integrate the growing number of allied health professionals into the health care system. Workshop address various issues faced by allies and aimed at building some solutions. Attended by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice and Health Policy
Moving Surveillance Forward - Maternal Mortality meeting and Special Interest Group Aimed at increasing surveillance on maternal mortality, providing information on various state efforts to track maternal mortality. Author Cynthia Berg shared from her article
Pregnancy-Related Mortality in the United States, 1998 to 2005. Attended by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice and Health Policy
APRIL
Premature Infant Health Coalition Summit Washington, DC Sponsored by National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition Key Issues: The Coalition focuses on reducing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality and the incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight and cesarean section. Attended by Eileen Beard, CNM, FNP, MS, ACNM Senior Practice Advisor
American Nurses' Association Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics Key Issues: ANA policy statements, implications for practice, and collegial work with other organizational affiliates. Learn more about ANA CNPE. Attended by Ginger Breedlove, CNM, PhD, FACNM
International and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) National Advisory Board Meeting Kansas City, MO Sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Key Issues: ALSO is the internationally recognized course for the promotion of safety in maternity care. The course is currently medically focused but there is a possibility of creating a more midwifery centered program with the recognition of midwives as the primary providers of maternity care throughout most of the world. Attended by Helen Welch, CNM
Newborn Screening Clearinghouse Materials Working Group Sponsored by Genetic Alliance Key Issues: Resources being developed by this group include a video depicting newborn screening discussed in a prenatal office setting; an educational toolkit for health care providers; and a Web site. These resources will be of benefit to the practicing midwife in educating midwives and clients. Learn more about the Clearinghouse. Attended by Joyce Bailey , MSN, CNM, WHNP and Kathy Mercer, CNM, RNC-OB, MA, MSN
National Student Nurses' Association Annual Conference Salt Lake City Key Issues: ACNM presented and exhibited at the National Student Nurses' Association conference. Presentation made by Elaine Germano, CNM, DrPH, FACNM, ACNM Senior Education Policy Advisor. Booth staffed by Elaine Germano; Jennifer Cook, CNM; Danielle Demeter, CNM; Jane Dyer, CNM; Sarah Hagen, CNM; Amy Petersen, SNM; Celeste Thomas, CNM.
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Birth Summit Winchester, Virginia Sponsored by Birth Matters Northern Virginia Key Issues: ACNM was invited to participate in a panel discussion on issues around maternal mortality. Attended by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice and Health Policy
Nursing Alliance for Quality Care Symposium - Nurse-led Medical Homes: Increasing Access to Quality Care Washington, DC Key Issues: ACNM gave a presentation highlighting the midwife’s role in the provision of primary and women’s health care within the medical home. Learn more about NAQC. Presentation made by Tina Johnson, CNM, MS, ACNM Director of Professional Practice and Health Policy
ACNM/AIUM Liaison Meeting Orlando, FL Key Issues: ACNM has partnered with the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) to develop jointly endorsed standards and guidelines for midwives performing limited ultrasound examinations. ACNM has also developed a position statement addressing this issue. Attended by Cydney Afriat Menihan, CNM, MSN, RDMS
ACOG Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Washington, DC Key Issues: Non-medically indicated elective delivery before 39 gestation weeks; maternal health legislation; midwife/OB GYN practice models. Learn more about ACOG PSQI. Attended by Kai Tao, CNM MPH
National Quality Forum Annual Meeting Washington, DC Key Issues: Perinatal measures and policy work; populations health programs that will focus on outpatient delivery models, primary prevention, and holistic/integrated care. Learn more about the National Quality Forum. Attended by Elisabeth Howard, CNM and Diana Jolles, CNM
FDA Health Professional Briefing - Makena and Terbutaline for Preterm Labor Key Issues:Makena (Progesterone injection for prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth); new recommendations on use of terbutaline to arrest/prevent preterm labor. In March, ACNM and AWHONN expressed their concern regarding the cost of Makena, prompting Ther-Rx to reduce the price to ensure that high-risk women have access to this FDA-approved drug. Attended by Nancy Jo Reedy, CNM MPH FACNM
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: Reframing Breastfeeding Moving Forward Chapel Hill, NC Key Issues: Many organizational stakeholders attended this meeting, including the American Association of Birth Centers, AWHONN, Association pour la Sante Publique du Quebec, The Big Push for Midwives Campaign, Birth Matters Virginia, Birth Network of Santa Cruz County, BirthNetwork National, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), Citizens for Midwifery, DONA International, InJoy Birth & Parenting Education, ICEA, Lamaze International, MANA, NARM, Our Bodies Ourselves, The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation, and Where’s My Midwife? Learn more about the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS). Attended by Eileen Beard, CNM FNP MS, ACNM Senior Practice Advisor
Family Violence Prevention Fund National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence Steering Committee Key Issues: Planning of 2012 national conference. Several health provider organizations are represented on this committee, including American Assocation of Family Practitioners, American Medical Association, American Academy of Neurology, ACOG, and American Academy of Pediatrics. Learn more about the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF). Attended by Diane K. Bohn, RN, CNM, PhD
Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Key Issues: This committee reviews research proposals, protocol progression, and outcomes of the NIH-funded Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. Attended by Katharine O'Dell, CNM
JANUARY
National Child Maternal Health Education Program Key Issues: Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative and ACOG presented on issues relating to preventing late pre-term birth and early term elective birth. Joint Committee on Perinatal Care Core Measures, Madscape CME to be released in March. Stakeholders for maternity care: representing providers, consumers, payers, and related organization present. Attended by Mavis N. Schorn, PhD, CNM
Uniformed Services Community University Graduate School of Nursing - Genetic Essentials Working Group Key Issues: Developing a set of minimum standards for Baccalaureate, Masters, and Post-Masters nursing education related genetics and genomics as well as setting a related minimum competency for recently graduated and/or practicing nurses of all levels. It is important to have these standards as CNMs/CMs work is so involved with human reproduction and they must be aware of the latest information related to genetic or genomic conditions/history. Attended by Lynneece Rooney, CNM
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Meeting Key Issues: Key stakeholders came together to review the criteria for the designation of Medically Underserved Areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas, including health centers, rural health clinics, and other rural providers, special populations with unique health care needs, and technical experts in health care access and statistical methods. The Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is one factor used to determine eligibility for a number of programs that improve access to health care, the Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/MUP) designation is used as a basis for awarding grants to Community Health Centers. As providers of primary care for women, ACNM members and their clients are directly affected by the decisions of the HRSA Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. Attended by Tina Johnson and Patrick Cooney
Convening of the Champion Nursing Council and Champion Nursing Coalition Attendees discussed the relevance of the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations on the future of nursing to participating organizations and examine the role organizations can play in implementing IOM recommendations. Attended by Tina Johnson and Patrick Cooney
ACNM on Facebook
ACNM on Twitter
ACNM on LinkedIn
ACNM on YouTube