How did we get where we are? What is happening now? The need for change. How do Birth Centers fit?
Services and Programs: Participants are encouraged to "think outside the box" in developing the core and complementary services that will better meet the needs of the modern woman and her family.
Birth Center Privileges: The pros and cons of open and closed staff models and the importance of credentialing providers for managed care organizations are discussed.
Collaborative Practice: Referral, transfer and collaborative practice between midwives and medical specialists are explained.
Financial Management: The reality of the bottom line in all services today is especially important in a small, single service unit. What does a budget look like? What are the pitfalls of billing and contracting with managed care? At what volume will a center break even? How do you compute salaries?
Staffing: A variety of staffing models are presented. What kind of staff? How much staff? What does payroll look like?
This is an extensive tour of an accredited birth center. The staff will role play labor and birth and answer questions about emergency protocols, consultation, referrals and transfers.
Assessment & Feasibility: What are the steps for determining the feasibility of establishing a successful birth center operation?
Philosophy, Purpose & Program: How are the philosophy, purpose and program of a birth center different from that of an in-hospital LDRP?
Organizational Structure: What are the pros and cons of not-for-profit vs. a privately-owned birth center? Are there advantages to a hospital-owned birth center?
Business Planning: How important is it to have a business plan? How do you write one for a birth center?
Facility: What determines the construction of the facility? How much space is needed for realistic utilization projections? Can it be attached to a hospital or doctor's office? Can it be attached to a surgical center?
What internal and external mechanisms have been established for ensuring quality of operations in birth centers? What guidelines are available?
What is marketing? How is it developed for a birth center? How much should it cost? How do you know it is working?
What are the next steps for you to get started in your community? What resources are available?