Capt. Karen Allen, CNM (USPHS ret.) began the midwifery practice at Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC) in 1979. Thanks to her leadership, the practice has grown from a single provider to a staff of nine CNMs (all ACNM members) and one women?s health nurse practitioner (WHNP).

As the only independent nurse-midwifery service within the Indian Health Service (IHS), the PIMC staff provides care to approximately 90% of the obstetrical population served by the hospital, and attends approximately 75% of deliveries. The PIMC midwives also provide services at an outlying clinic on the reservation, located just outside the Phoenix metropolitan area. While many specialty providers conduct clinics periodically at the reservation facility, the CNMs who travel there exclusively provide all the obstetrical and gynecological services.

PIMC has provided clinical training for 27 student nurse-midwives (SNMs) and eight WHNP students. Recognizing that an important part of midwifery education is the training of others to our philosophies and practices, PIMC is also actively involved in the training of students from other disciplines including: Ob/Gyn and Family Practice residents, student nurses, and Physician Assistant (PA) students. Additionally, the CNM staff directs a program that provides "refresher" training to non-obstetrical physician providers from remote clinical sites within the IHS.

PIMC provides specialty services through their Adolescent Pregnancy Program and has developed a "Mom/Baby" clinic for new mothers coordinating postpartum visits with their newborn's 2-month well baby appointment, significantly improving ?show rates? for follow up visits.

PIMC has a long and proud history of serving as advocates for their clients, fighting for their right to have those components of obstetrical care that are common place in community and private settings.

The "heart of obstetrics," at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center is Midwifery! The PIMC CNMs begin every consideration for change with the question, "what is best for our patients?"