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~ Why Does The Birth Center Need Volunteers? ~
I am the mother of 4 children, 2 born in hospital and the younger 2 at
Puget Sound Birth Center and at home. Those experiences led me to
become an aspiring midwife, but those plans are on hold until my
children are older. In the meantime, I'm fulfilling the call to be
involved in the birth world by managing the accounting aspects of the
birth center. This letter is a summary of what I have learned about this
business.
By Liz Chalmers You may be wondering why the birth center, now and in the past, has asked for help from clients. The answer lies in the harsh realities of insurance reimbursement and malpractice insurance. You have probably heard of the malpractice crisis and its particular impact on obstetricians. Throughout the country, doctors are finding it less and less worthwhile to attend deliveries. Instead they are increasingly turning toward their gynecological practice, which is more lucrative and carries less risk. Hospitals also find the maternity business hard, hence the closings of many maternity services in the region, including Group Health Eastside, Providence, and Virginia Mason. The remaining hospitals see the maternity business as a loss-leader. The place where a woman delivers her babies is likely to be where she and her family will return for more lucrative surgeries later. Midwives and birth centers are also being hit hard by malpractice premium increases, but they don't have a second line of business to turn to. Midwives specialize purely in pregnancy and birth, and particularly in normal pregnancy and birth, where few procedures are administered. In general, insurance reimburses for procedures. For example, a single amniocentesis may cost more than a mom's entire normal prenatal care. Each time an IV is administered or a medication is given, there is another chance to bill insurance. Those things are routine in a hospital setting, but exceptional in a birth center birth. Midwives also focus on taking care of a family's emotional and informational needs, which takes time. Hence a midwife sees one client in the time a doctor may see five or more. All of this adds up to a business that is driven more by love than by money. The bottom line always feels tenuous and there is always more to do than there are hours in the day. Don't worry -- Puget Sound Midwives and Birth Center isn't going away. There are far too many committed owners and volunteers who have kept it going and will continue to do so. But the more help we can get, the more assured the future of normal birth becomes.
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Help while you shop
Here is one effortless way to support Puget Sound Midwives & Birth Center. As easy as a click of the
mouse, you can contribute financially by shopping online. Two online services donate a portion of sales
to us when you register with their service. It is easy, painless, AND rewarding.
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