Making the alternative the mainstream *1Maintaining a family-centered focus in a large freestanding birth center for low-income women

Transfer rates from freestanding birth centers A comparison with the National Birth Center Study

“…Sharp The BirthPlace is a NACC accredited freestanding birth center located in San Diego, California (16). Sharp The BirthPlace provides services to a predominantly Hispanic (over 85%), Medicaid (Medi‐Cal in California) population.…”

“…In California, a freestanding birth center can also become accredited through a state equivalent process. Selected clinical procedures that were availabIe for use in one center were precluded in the other based on adherence to NACC guidelines Sharp The Birthplace is a NACC accredited freestanding birth center located in San D~ego, California (16). Sharp The Birthplace provides services to a predominantly Hispanic (over 85%j, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CaIifomia) population.…”

Mainstreaming Alternative Medicine: Doing Midwifery at the Intersection

“…Hospitals or obstetricians might employ midwives as staff members to provide labor support or as primary providers operating within their practice. In some instances, they have been mainstreamed into traditional medical practices while enhancing efficiency and sustaining a family-centered focus (Dickinson, Jackson, & Swartz, 1994;Lyons, Reinke, Sutherland, & Zelenkov, 1992). In other instances, they have faced a great deal of resistance (Langton, 1994).…”

Triage issues in an out-of-hospital birth center

“…Evidence-based practice is a valuable tool for helping "low-risk women avoid high risk care" (3). Since OOH birth centers enjoy less institutional inertia, they can more easily adapt to reflect the latest information, and protocols are continually updated.…”