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Canberra Hospital and Health ServicesOperational Procedure Endorsed Private Midwives Contents

Contents...................................................................................................................................1

Purpose.................................................................................................................................... 2

Alerts........................................................................................................................................2

Scope........................................................................................................................................2

Section 1 – Background............................................................................................................2

Section 2 – Roles and Responsibilities......................................................................................3

Implementation........................................................................................................................5

Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and Legislation.........................................................5

References................................................................................................................................6

Definition of Terms...................................................................................................................6

Search Terms..........................................................................................................................10

Attachments...........................................................................................................................10

Attachment 1 – Deed of Collaborative Agreement............................................................11

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Purpose

This procedure provides guidance to clinicians about maternity care provided by Endorsed Private Midwives (EPM) and the collaboration, consultation and referral with other health professionals at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children (CHWC) ACT Health.

This procedure also provides information for all employees of ACT Health and all organisations and individuals acting as its agents including Visiting Medical Officers.

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Scope

Alerts

This document only applies to EPM who are credentialed by CHHS to provide midwifery services to their private patients.

In the event of a dispute between the EPM and hospital clinical staff relating to the safety of an inpatient, the Senior Medical Officer is entitled to make interim clinical decisions in respect of the care of the patient and the EPM will agree to comply with such decisions.

Back to Table of ContentsThis document applies to the following Canberra Hospital and Health Services (CHHS) staff working within their scope of practice: Medical Officers Registered Nurses and Midwives Student Nurses and Midwives working under supervision Endorsed Private Midwives (EPM)s

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This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) describes for staff the process to

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The EPM is competent to provide pregnancy, labour, birth and post natal care to women and their infants including ordering diagnostic investigations and prescribing scheduled medicines in accordance with relevant territory legislation.

EPMs are registered midwives with endorsement to prescribe schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines and to provide associated services required for midwifery practice in accordance with relevant and territory legislation.

EPMs are credentialed by CHHS to provide private midwifery care at the CHWC. The EPM must also have a current collaborative arrangement between her/ himself and

a named specified medical practitioner and/or the CHWC Obstetric Service. The EPM must also hold a current “Access Agreement for the Provision of Private

Midwifery services with ACT Health”.

Consultation and referral:The EPM must discuss, consult and refer as per the current publication of the Australian College of Midwives National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral. The EPM will fully inform relevant staff as soon as appropriate or as otherwise directed and required, in respect of the provision of services and, in respect of clinical handovers and continuing care of patients.

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Section 2 – Roles and Responsibilities

The practice of the EPM, ACT Health Medical Practitioners, Midwives and other Health Professionals will be based on mutual respect, cooperation and shared principles. The shared principles that provide information are based on the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2010).

These are as follows: Care is women centred. Care is provided within a cooperative, collaborative, efficient and timely framework All communication between individuals is courteous, respectful, culturally appropriate

and professional Collaboration aims to maximise the woman’s continuity of care and carer throughout

pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period

Responsibilities:The responsibilities of the EPM are as follows: Ensure all legislative and professional requirements by practising according to the Access

License Agreement with ACT Health. Ensure all relevant clinical documentation is in accordance with the ACT Health policies

and legislation (ACT Government, 2011) (Australian Capital Territory, 1997- republication date 1 July 2011) (Records Management Manual for Clinical Records, 2012).

Document all maternity care in the woman’s ACT handheld Maternity Record, the clinical file and on the electronic database, Birth Outcomes System (BOS).

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Ensure all notations in clinical records have a signature, date and Medicare provider number attached.

Attend case conferences meetings as required. Participate in clinical audit and mortality and morbidity meetings as required. Comply with all current ACT Health Policies and Procedures. Wear valid ACT Health authorised identification at all times whilst on ACT Health

premises. Commit to improvement of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the respective

maternity services staff. Undertake training in Riskman and report as per Incident Management Procedure and

Significant Incident Procedure. Collaborate with maternity service managers to address the issues raised by such entries.

Complete all essential education as required by ACT Health. Collaborate fully with ACT Health staff when dealing with complaints about woman’s

care. Do not bring any other health professional, health student or any other person into ACT

Health facilities without prior approval. Uphold the values of ACT Health, care, excellence, collaboration and integrity at all times

whilst in ACT Health facilities.

The responsibilities of the ACT Health Medical Practitioner who are collaborating with EPM are as follows: Acknowledge the professional framework of midwifery practice including:

o Current codes and standards of practice.o Guidelines for Consultation and Referral (Australian College of Midwives, 2013).

Engage with the EPM in a timely manner when consulted to give medical advice Use the principles outlined in the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care

(National Health and Medical Research Council, 2010) when collaborating with other health professionals at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

Facilitate the transfer of a woman’s care when required. Attend case conferencing with the EPM as requested and required. Notify the Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of any incident where there has not

been agreement with an EPM about the care required by a woman.

The responsibilities of the ACT Health midwifery Team leader or Manager for a clinical area where the EPM is the admitting officer for a woman and baby are as follows: Ensure that staff are allocated to support the EPM as required with the care of

woman/baby Ensure that if the EPM is leaving the campus that a suitably qualified midwife is allocated

to care for the woman/baby in their absence

The responsibilities of the ACT Health Midwife or Nurse who are working with the EPM are as follows: Provide clinical care to the woman/baby in a support role to the EPM as requested by

the Team Leader

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Provide clinical care as the primary responsible midwife if the EPM is unavailable and has left the campus

Work collaboratively with the EPM at all times Notify the EPM of all changes to the condition of their woman/baby and notify the EPM

if the woman/baby requires referral for ongoing care to another health practitioner

Exchange of informationThe EPM and ACT Health staff will: Exchange information in relation to the care of a woman/baby accessing Endorsed

Private Midwifery (EPM) care which may involve information that is confidential and /or subject to privacy laws. It is acknowledged that all health professionals are bound by their respective confidentiality and privacy laws or obligations. All health professionals will ensure security measures are in place to protect information provided by the other party from unauthorised access, use or disclosure.

Actively restrict any person from accessing or using information, unless that person is legally authorised to do so.

Recognise and observe the confidentiality of information and agree that the collection, release and use of information will comply, so far as they apply to the relevant party, with all applicable ACT Government Policy and Legislative requirements.

Comply with any other reasonable confidentiality restriction agreed between the parties in respect to the handling or disclosure of information.

Dispute resolutionAny matter in relation to EPM with an Access License Agreement with ACT Health that may be in dispute will be addressed by the Executive Director, Division of Women Youth and Children. This can be by reporting the matter via Riskman and by letter or email to the Executive Director.

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ImplementationThis procedure will be accessible via the electronic policy/ guideline register on the ACT health intranet. It will be accessible to all relevant stakeholders and discussed at multidisciplinary education session.

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Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and Legislation

Policies Health Directorate Nursing and Midwifery Continuing Competence Policy Consent and Treatment Policy

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Procedures All maternity clinical and operational procedures

Guidelines All maternity clinical guidelines

Legislation Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 Human Rights Act 2004 Work Health and Safety Act 2011

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References

1. ACT Government. (2011). Information for consumers of health services in the ACT. Canberra: AHPRA (2010). Eligible Midwife Registration Standard http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx

2. AHPRA (2010). Eligible Midwives Prescribing Formulary http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-and-Endorsement/Endorsements-Notations/Prescribing-Formulary.aspx

3. Australian Capital Territory. (1997- republication date 1 July 2011). Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997. Canberra, ACT.

4. Australian College of Midwives. (2013). National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral (3rd ed.).

5. Australian Government Australian Government Website with information about collaboration between obstetricians and eligible midwives.http://www.commcarelink.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/commun-princ-midwives

6. Australian Health Ministers' Conference. (2011). National Maternity Services Plan. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

7. National Health and Medical Research Council. (2010). National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

8. (2012). Records Management Manual for Clinical Records. Canberra: ACT Government Health.

9. Queensland Health Credentialing and Defining the Scope of Clinical Practice http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/pol/qh-pol-390.pdf

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Definition of Terms

Approved midwifery professional practice review program means a formal professional practice review program for midwives accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and subsequently approved by the Board, that is designed to review evidence of a midwife’s professional performance over time across the continuum

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of midwifery care. A list of Board approved midwifery practice review programs will be published on the NMBA website.

Approved program of study means an educational program to develop the midwife’s knowledge and skills in prescribing medicines that has been accredited by ANMAC and subsequently approved by the Board for the purpose of enabling the eligible midwife to seek endorsement under section 94 of the National Law to prescribe schedule 2, 3, 4, and 8 medicines, in accordance with relevant State or Territory legislation.

Pregnancy, labour birth and post natal care (the continuum of midwifery care) incorporates: ante-natal care; intrapartum care; and post natal care for women and their infants, and includes clinical assessment, exercise of clinical judgement, planning, implementation, monitoring and review responding to maternity emergencies, assessment and care of the newborn infant, management and administration of medications, judicious use of diagnostic investigations.

The Board or NMBA means the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

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Search Terms

Eligible midwife, Endorsed midwife, Private practising midwife

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Attachments

Attachment 1 – Deed of Collaborative Agreement

Disclaimer: This document has been developed by ACT Health, Canberra Hospital and Health Service specifically for its own use. Use of this document and any reliance on the information contained therein by any third party is at his or her own risk and Health Directorate assumes no responsibility whatsoever.

Date Amended Section Amended Approved ByEg: 17 August 2014 Section 1 ED/CHHSPC Chair

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Attachment 1 – Deed of Collaborative Agreement

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