Patient satisfaction with collaborative practice

Interprofessional collaborative practice in obstetrics and midwifery

As the health care system transforms to accommodate an increased need for primary care services and more patients, new models of health care delivery are needed that can provide quality health care services efficiently. An integrated collaborative practice of certified nurse-midwives, obstetrician-gynecologists, and perinatologists is best suited to meet the rapidly changing needs of the maternity health care delivery system. This article reviews the literature on interprofessional collaborative practice and describes the structure, function, and essential elements of successful collaboration in health care.

Academic models of clinical care for women: the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

Between 1996 and 1999, 18 academic health centers were awarded the designation of National Center of Excellence (CoE) in Women's Health by the Office on Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services and were provided with seed monies to develop model clinical services for women. Although the model has evolved in various forms, core characteristics that each nationally designated CoE has adopted include comprehensive, women-friendly, women-focused, women-relevant, integrated, multidisciplinary care. The permanent success of these comprehensive clinical programs resides in the ability to garner support of leaders of the academic health centers who understand both the importance of multidisciplinary programs to the clinical care they provide women and the education they offer to the future providers of women's healthcare.