Innovation in community care

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By Candace Davis
February 18, 2007 EAST

In late 2006, Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital launched the first stage of its innovative Collaborative Care Program — the Maternity Homecare Program.

The program was developed in response to requests from women to receive postnatal care from home, through routine visits from a midwife. The midwife provides assistance with feeding, adaptation to parenthood and ensures both mother and baby are healthy. A home phototherapy service is also available for those babies requiring extended therapy for jaundice.

The six homecare midwives liaise regularly with the mother’s obstetrician and paediatrician. Feedback from women and their families so far has been extremely positive, with requests for the service increasing.

Development of the Collaborative Care Program is based on recommendations from a review of Maternity Services in Queensland, conducted by Dr Cherrell Hirst in 2005. Stages two and three — Antenatal Collaborative Practice With VMOs and Intrapartum Collaboration With VMOs — will be gradually introduced over the course of 2007.

May 07, 2008 EAST. Webmaster

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