Shared antenatal care. A regional perspective.
BACKGROUND
Since the early 1990s in Australia there has been a shift from private to public obstetric care, resulting from a number of factors including falling private health insurance rates and a decrease in the number of general practitioners undertaking obstetric care. Strategies were required to address the overload in the public hospital obstetric system, and increase the number of skilled practitioners involved in obstetric care.


OBJECTIVE
This article aims to outline the process and delivery of a system of shared care in obstetrics developed by the Geelong Division of General Practice in conjunction with Barwon Health, midwives and obstetricians.


CONCLUSIONS
The shared antenatal care program, established in 1994, aims to develop and encourage standardised antenatal and postnatal protocols and provide high standards of obstetric care. The program has evolved in response to new challenges and has brought benefits in improved continuity and coordination of obstetric care, fully utilising established therapeutic relationships, rationalizing resources, upskilling medical staff and promoting linkages between obstetricians, midwives and GPs.
Lombardo
Maria
M
Golding
George
G
D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014739:Victoria