With women, for a lifetimeTM Commendation
Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, MA)
Baystate Midwifery Associates celebrated its 20th birthday in 2005. The practice was initially housed in the Division of Community Health and served as a touchstone for the development of the Division of Midwifery and Community Health in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynocology at Baystate Medical Center in 1997. Baystate Midwifery Associates has earned the respect and support of the department and institution as a fully integrated and essential health care service for women.
Baystate Midwifery Associates' primary mission has been and continues to be providing holistic, patient-centered obstetric, gynecologic and primary care services, i.e. midwifery care, to vulnerable women. In focusing on this population, the midwives routinely deal with women affected by poverty, drug use, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, limited education, inability to speak English, and stress filled lives. Against this background in social stressors, CNMs help these women negotiate sometimes significant medical problems by managing HIV in pregnancy, high rates of STIs, smoing and preterm labor. Over the years, this has also included care to immigrant women resettled in our area, including Vietnames and Russioan women; and Ceteral American migrant farm workers.
They have had a 20 year commitment to provide care not only in their hospital-based office but also a variety of community sites including school-based clinics and community health centers in the city. In addition, they presently provide pregnancy and gynecology care to incarcerated women at the county correctional facility.
Bayste Midwifery Associates believes that all midwives have an obligation to help educate the next generation. The practice serves as the major clinical site for the Baystate Medical Center Midwifery Education Program, with most CNMs having joint faculty appointments. They have also hosted CNM interns, and welcomed any new graduates to the practice.
The most important part of the "heart of midwifery" is being available to women. the practice provides 24/7 direct access to a midwivfe for questions, problems, and in person evaluation. The midwvies in the practice also make themselves available to each other for clinical consultation and suuport. The practice, through continuous fiscal profitability, has been able to maintain a weekly 3 hour clincal meeting time to discuss patients, clinical issues, and practice administration.
