In 1998, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services awarded a grant to Coastal AHEC to initiate certified nurse midwifery services in order to address health care access and infant mortality concerns in the southeastern area of the state. The midwifery program, housed within an Ob-Gyn residency training program, offers a spectrum of clinical services primarily targeted at low-income, underserved, and rural populations. The program is working toward creating a collaborative system of service delivery among the CNMs and Ob-Gyn resident physicians. A formative evaluation of the program was conducted one year after its initiation. Data was collected through a series of structured interviews with key stakeholders. Areas of assessment included agreement between the proposed plan and actual implementation activities, collaboration, program awareness, patient satisfaction, and overall program functioning. Researchers collected information from approximately 30 key informants, 70 local practitioners, and 80 CNM patients. Program strengths included increased accessibility to Ob-Gyn care in rural areas, high patient satisfaction, and quality service delivery. Weaknesses included administrative delays related to credentialing, differing perceptions of program objectives, and a lack of awareness of CNM services among the public and medical staff. Suggestions for program enhancement included: (1) assess ways to ensure financial stability of services; (2) improve the continuity of care between the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods and degree of collaboration among providers; and (3) involve midwives more closely in residency training. Program leaders are holding regular meetings to address issues of concern and create action plans.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the contributions of certified nurse midwifery services in promoting healthy birth outcomes. 2. Recognize the value of conducting a formative evaluation of a new program. 3. Discuss a formative evaluation methodology and a potential action plan stemming from the evaluation's results
Keywords: Evaluation, Midwifery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.