Open Letter to HCA regarding the closure of Rose midwifery and Colorado nurse-midwives
To Whom It May Concern:
Last week, the Denver and Aurora communities were both shocked and dismayed to learn of the planned closing of two large midwifery services. The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) announced a short-sighted decision to close the Rose Midwifery and Colorado Nurse-Midwives practices effective January 31, 2019. This decision will leave hundreds of families without their chosen care providers and, potentially, without access to health care.
The issue that is most concerning is that these two practices have historically provided care to a high volume of underserved community members—families on Medicaid, refugees, and inner-city residents. Both of these practices have provided culturally-sensitive and individualized care to women and their families for more than 20 years.
Maternal mortality in the United States remains one of the highest of any industrialized nation and currently is being addressed by legislation. Poor outcomes are worse among certain races and ethnicities. For example, African American women are three to four times more likely to die in pregnancy (or soon after) than white women. Despite spending more dollars per capita than any other country, the United States continues to have a high rate of maternal mortality. The midwifery model of care is known to significantly improve outcomes and strengthen the health of families, while simultaneously decreasing cost and unnecessary interventions. The loss of midwifery services in the Denver urban area is harmful to these vulnerable population and threatens to further increase disparities.
We, the undersigned, stand together against this decision by HCA. The nurse-midwives at Rose Medical Center and The Aurora Medical Center provide safe, cost-effective, and quality care to both insured and underserved women and families. The loss of these practices will have a long-lasting and negative impact on these communities.
Colorado Affiliate of American College of Nurse-Midwives
Board of Directors
Elisa Patterson PhD, CNM -President
Aubre Tompkins MS, CNM-Vice President
Terra Kennedy MS, CNM-Secretary
Kate Koschoreck MS, CNM-Treasurer
Jeanne Bair DNP,CNM- Member-at-Large
Gretchen Scott MS, CNM- Member-at Large
Mallory Otto BSN, SNM-Student Representative
Jessica Anderson DNP,CNM ACNM Region VI Representative
SUPPORT THESE MIDWIFERY PRACTICES AND THE WOMEN THEY SERVE BY SIGNING OUR OPEN LETTER HERE.
“Colorado Certified Nurse-Midwives are here to empower you to make informed choices while providing compassionate, safe, state of the art care.”
welcome to the ACNM COLORADO Affliate Site!
Colorado Certified Nurse-Midwives can offer your family personalized, safe, and current choices in childbirth.
Whether you:
Choose to birth in a hospital, birth center or at home
Aspire to have an unmedicated birth or want to keep your options open for pain medication or an epidural
Desire a vaginal birth after a Caesarean Section (VBAC)
Colorado Certified Nurse-Midwives are here to empower you to make informed choices while providing compassionate, safe, state of the art care.
LATEST NEWS/UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Affiliate Meeting: December 4th, 2018 Register Now!
Check out the 2014 Colorado Nurse-Midwifery Practice Survey for key findings about the Nature and Scope of Colorado CNM Practice and Compensation and Benefits.
