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Who We Are

Public Citizen Study

The American College of Nurse-Midwives is pleased to report that a recentstudy issued by a consumer advocacy group called Public Citizen has furtherdocumented the safety, cost-effectiveness and benefits of nurse-midwiferycare. The study includes data from more than 400 nurse-midwiferyhospital-based practices and 68 freestanding birth centers.

The key findings of the study include:

1) most certified nurse-midwives(CNMs) whoattend hospital birth are caring for not only low risk women but alsomoderate and highrisk women through co-management with a physician.

2) Most CNMs areprovidingobstetric and gynecological care for their clients.

3) The overall C-sectionrate of the survey respondents (who represent 50-60% of the nation's CNMattended births) was 11.6%. The vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rateaveraged 68.9%. The C-section rate is half the national average and the VBACrate is 2.8 times the national average.

4) Nurse-midwives individualize theircare, giving women flexibility in labor in order to make them morecomfortable.

5) Nurse-midwives continue to struggle for the acceptance andautonomy needed to practice their profession.

The study findings were released in a press conference Monday in Washington,D.C. and media coverage of the findings is nationwide. Most major newspapershave run stories besides coverage on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and NPR.

Public Citizen's recommendations include reviewing state laws and regulationsgoverning the practice of nurse-midwifery to determine their impact on theprovision of nurse-midwifery services, creating more opportunities for theeducation of nurse-midwives, and implementing a sustained public informationcampaign on the quality, cost-effectiveness, and client satisfaction ratingsof nurse-midwives. Dr. Phil Lee, Assistant Secretary of the Department ofHealth and Human Services assured conference attendees that he would beworking closely with nurse-midwives to ensure that the barriers to theirpractice are removed.

The study consists of a 253-page Consumer Guide and 63-page policy makersreport. Both publications are available for $15 each and available fromPublic Citizen.

Write:
Public Citizen Customer Service
Attn: Midwives'Reports
1600 20th Street, NW. Washington, DC 20009, USA

An order form and arepeat of much of this information is also available from the ACNM Fax onDemand service at: 202-728-9898, documents 5501 and 5502.

For more information on locating nurse-midwifery practices in the U.S., sendyour postal address and area where you would like to find a CNM to:info@acnm.org or call: 202-728-9860.