Headline News

Stevenson Memorial Hospital launches expanded midwifery program

August 29, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Stevenson Memorial Hospital has announced that it is expanding its midwifery program and will be enhancing services in obstetrics with funding provided by the provincial government.

Midwives are available to support all obstetrics patients at SMH and the new dedicated midwifery outpatient clinic.

The investment is part of the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Expanded Midwifery Care Model program.

The program aims to improve access to midwifery services in communities with demonstrated needs and expand the options for midwife-delivered care to a broader patient population.

SMH has had a long-standing relationship with the Alliston Midwives, having been partners for almost 30 years.

This newly expanded partnership will increase their role and presence at the hospital, working collaboratively with obstetricians and nursing staff.

As part of the expanded program, midwives can provide, surgical assistance in C-sections, newborn exams and facilitating early discharge for patients, postpartum wellness checks for mom as well as her baby and breastfeeding support.

Support also includes Bilirubin follow-up and a Home Phototherapy Program for infants with jaundice, enhance staffing by supporting nurses with mentoring and education support, and virtual prenatal breastfeeding information sessions.

This is a fully funded self-referral program, that’s available to patients without OHIP.

Prenatal patients looking to sign up for a breastfeeding information session or any family unable to get to get an appointment with their healthcare provider, patients can contact the Expanded Midwifery Clinic at EMC@smhosp.on.ca to arrange a clinic visit.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us as a community hospital and any of our patients in obstetrics who choose Stevenson for labour and delivery services,” said Julia Mullen, vice president of clinical services and chief nursing executive. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Alliston Midwives and are pleased that they will have an enhanced role, providing additional support services to patients and families in our community, especially those who may not have a family physician.”

Primary care providers are welcome to share this resource with their patients if they could benefit from the specialized or off-hour services.

“We’re very excited to bring these additional services to OB patients at the hospital and we look forward to meeting all of the new families to come,” said Holly Ryan, lead midwife at SMH. ‘We enjoy working with the team at SMH and as one of only two dozen Expanded Midwifery Clinics in the province, we know how unique and beneficial our program is to our local community.”

Readers Comments (0)