Revisiting an "old" solution to the high costs of maternity care.
This article examines the high costs of maternity care in the United States and proposes an old fashioned solution--the midwife. Particular attention is given to the costs associated with poor birth outcomes, such as prematurity and low-birthweight infants. Literature is reviewed that demonstrates certified nurse-midwives have achieved a reduction in these poor birth outcomes. Projections of cost savings resulting from these better outcomes are also presented.
Ulrich
S
S
North Shore Birth Center, Beverly, MA 01915.
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013675:Technology, High-Cost; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce