by Debby | Dec 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has published a new consumer brochure on labor induction. Unfortunately, this brochure is poorly written and misleading. One would think from reading the brochure that elective induction is a completely innocuous... by Jeanne | Nov 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
H means HELP! And now in many hospitals, a patient or visitor is provided with the phone number for a “hot line” to use to voice urgent concerns if they arise. Along with the recognition of patient’s rights and responsibilities to Speak Up and be heard, as well as the... by Debby | Oct 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
It’s been almost 20 months since I sat in as a guest at the meeting of the Steering Committee on National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Perinatal Care for the National Quality Forum. (That is a lot of words for the name of that meeting.) The discussions and... by Jeanne | Oct 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
What can hospitals do to create an environment where clients actually do have freedom of choice? At the ICEA convention Val Lincoln told wondrous stories of an exemplary model of holistic care offered at the Woodwinds Hospital in Minnesota. Some of the services they... by Jeanne | Oct 19, 2009 | Uncategorized
This past week I attended the ICEA convention in Oklahoma City. Just as at the Lamaze Conference, discussion in and outside of the sessions centered around what childbirth educators need to do in order to meet the needs of the pregnant families of today. Some... by Debby | Oct 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
At the recent Lamaze conference, I heard lots of positive buzz about the session of Marilyn Hildreth, a labor nurse, doula, and childbirth educator. Her session, Welcome to My World, explored the reality of being a labor nurse today. One of her quotes has been...