Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic led to social isolation which both threatens mental health and has been shown to increase the risk for early death by 50%, and to contribute to increased rates of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and inflammation.
Local problem
No identified special programs to address loneliness related to social isolation were in place. This project aimed to improve adult coping with COVID‐19 in the community to 80% over 8 weeks.
Methods
Three interventions were implemented concurrently and studied through Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles. Each cycle started with a test of change, followed by data collection and analysis using run charts, aggregate data tables, and field notes. This analysis guided the design of new tests of change for each intervention in the following cycle. Iterative changes were introduced through four cycles over 8th weeks.
Interventions
These included a data‐gathering survey, a telehealth teach‐back tool and a telehealth listening tool. All interventions were implemented remotely through telehealth contacts.
Results
The project engaged 44 participants and successfully addressed loneliness by creating a social connection with 100% of participants and 82% of participants learned something new.
Conclusion
Telehealth interventions hardwired to be patient‐centered can provide isolated populations with meaningful social contact.
Introduction: Expansion of the midwifery-led birth center model of care is one pathway to improving maternal and newborn health. There are a variety of practice types among birth centers and a range of state regulatory structures of midwifery practice across the United States. This study investigated how those variations relate to pay and workload for midwives at birth centers.Methods: Data from the American Association of Birth Centers Practice Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' report on occupational employment and wage statistics were analyzed to explore how midwife salaries and workload at birth centers compare within and beyond the birth center model.Results: Survey results from 161 birth centers across the United States demonstrate wide variation in nurse-midwife salaries and are inconsistent with nurse-midwife salaries across all settings as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The reported number of hours worked by midwives within the birth center model is high. Salaries of midwives who work in birth center-only practices were consistently lower than salaries of midwives who worked in blended birth center and hospital practices, independent of the midwife's level of experience, geographic region of the country, and state regulatory structure.Discussion: Further research is needed to understand how to bring salaries and workload for midwives at birth centers into alignment with national averages.
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