About This Task Force
Chair: Diane Holzer LM CPM PAC
The objective for this task force is to work on initiatives that will improve interprofessional collaboration and communication within the U.S. maternity care system. The task force itself is a model of collaboration and includes leaders from health related fields including family medicine, midwifery, health administration, obstetrics, public health, pediatrics, and ethics as well as consumers and childbirth educators.
Activities To Date
The major focus for this task force has been the development of universal intrapartum transport, transfer, consultation, and collaboration guidelines for all professionals who are involved when a woman or baby is transferred to a hospital from a planned home birth. The Best Practice Guidelines: Transfer from Planned Home Birth to Hospital are available for download on this site. The guidelines have been endorsed by more than 225 organizations and individuals. Click here to view the endorsement list.
Next Steps, and Current and Future Projects
- Collaborate on several journal publications about the need for collaboration in maternity care and the Best Practice Guidelines.
- Deliver sessions to various maternity care organizations and groups about the benefits of interprofessional collaboration and introduce the Best Practice Guidelines. Learn more about recent presentations and publications here.
- Create sample scripts and form templates as resources for those that would like to adopt the Best Practice Transfer Guidelines. View Transfer Guidelines Model Forms here.
- Develop collaborative guidelines on prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care including access to labs, tests, consultation, and referral when necessary.
Vision Statement – Interprofessional Collaboration & Communication
We believe that collaboration within an integrated maternity care system is essential for optimal mother-baby outcomes. All women and families planning a home or birth center birth have a right to respectful, safe, and seamless consultation, referral, transport and transfer of care when necessary. When ongoing inter-professional dialogue and cooperation occur, everyone benefits.