title: Certified nurse-midwife effectiveness in the health maintenance organization obstetric team.
abstract: This study of the effectiveness of certified nurse-midwives in a health maintenance organization (HMO) led to five conclusions: 1) Maternity patients accepted certified nurse-midwife care; 2) the general female HMO population had little awareness of certified nurse-midwives but was receptive to receiving certified nurse-midwife care once the role was explained; 3) certified nurse-midwives reduced inpatient cost; 4) the use of certified nurse-midwives did not affect perinatal outcomes; and 5) physicians and certified nurse-midwives worked well together as team members. Certified nurse-midwives proved to be an unqualified success as team members in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Anaheim, California.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California; D002568:Certification; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D009773:Obstetric Nursing; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits