Why are women, generally happier with the care they received at a birth center or homebirth as opposed to the hospital?
Many of you will list reasons such as: less interventions, empowerment of women, comfortable surroundings, individual care, and a host of others.
Allow me to introduce a different concept. In fact, it is a business concept. A hospital is an institutional form of business, while a birth center or homebirth is entrepreneurial. Quite simply, the birth center midwife or homebirth midwife is an entrepreneur (some midwives are birth center employees, however, birth centers usually operate at or near breakeven, thus a midwife employee feels like an owner or manager) , where the hospital is an institution.
You are dealing with Mary the midwife, who may be the birth center owner. In the hospital, most of your contact is with a L&D nurse, who you probably do not know. You probably do not know her, nurse manager, and most definitely do not know the hospital CEO or president.
Mary the midwife will treat you well, not only because she really cares about your birth, but also because she cares about her business. If you have had a problem with your care, you will tspeak to Mary. If you have a problem in the hospital, you will speak with some bureaucrat. To Mary, you are special! To the hospital, you are another patient.
Some physicians practices are still entrepreneurial and others are now owned by the hospital and are institutional.
Which model is more likely to try to meet your needs? Institutional or entrepreneurial?
Tomorrow, we will put some dollar signs into the models.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours
As people are heading out of town to see loved ones for the holiday, let me take a moment to put my Blog in perspective.
I am thankful to live in the greatest country in the world. We can argue ways of improving birth, ways to improve paying for it, ways to give women more options and who is the best care provider.
BUT:
A mother of a 25 week preemie is thankful that we have the technology to give her baby a chance.
A woman with severe PPH is thankful that in this country that there is no shortage of anti-hemorrhage drugs or safe blood for transfusion
We don't worry about sterile instruments and clean gloves.
No hospital threatens to keep the baby if the bill is not paid (not true in some parts of the world)
Our doctors and nurses are well-trained, even though we can argue about birth interventions.
The illegal immigrant is so thankful that her newborn baby is automatically a citizen of these United States.
Enjoy the holiday! Enjoy the food, the warmth, the family and the traditions. On Monday, I will again be exposing, prodding and picking apart our birth care system. For this weekend, "Be Thankful." Many people do not have the blessings and abundance that we have, even in these bad times.
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
I am thankful to live in the greatest country in the world. We can argue ways of improving birth, ways to improve paying for it, ways to give women more options and who is the best care provider.
BUT:
A mother of a 25 week preemie is thankful that we have the technology to give her baby a chance.
A woman with severe PPH is thankful that in this country that there is no shortage of anti-hemorrhage drugs or safe blood for transfusion
We don't worry about sterile instruments and clean gloves.
No hospital threatens to keep the baby if the bill is not paid (not true in some parts of the world)
Our doctors and nurses are well-trained, even though we can argue about birth interventions.
The illegal immigrant is so thankful that her newborn baby is automatically a citizen of these United States.
Enjoy the holiday! Enjoy the food, the warmth, the family and the traditions. On Monday, I will again be exposing, prodding and picking apart our birth care system. For this weekend, "Be Thankful." Many people do not have the blessings and abundance that we have, even in these bad times.
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Death Panel by Any Other Name
On November 15th, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled: "The Rationing Commission -- Meet the Unelected Body That Will Dictate Future Medical Decisions."
(Click Here for Full Article)
The Journal points out some things that are extremely troubling:
“In other words, the Medicare commission would come to function much like the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which rations care in England. Or a similar Washington state board created in 2003 to control costs. Its handiwork isn't pretty
So far, the commission has banned knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis, discography for chronic back pain, and implantable infusion pumps for pain not related to cancer. This year, it is targeting such frivolous luxuries as knee replacements, spinal cord stimulation, a specialized autism therapy and MRIs of the abdomen, pelvis or breasts for cancer…
Currently, the commission is pushing through the most restrictive payment policy in the nation for drug-eluting cardiac stents—simply because bare metal stents are cheaper, even as they result in worse outcomes. If a patient is wheeled into the operating room with chest pains in an emergency, doctors will first have to determine if he's covered by a state plan, then the diameter of his blood vessels and his diabetic condition to decide on the appropriate stent. If they don't, Washington will not reimburse them for "inappropriate care."”
There is a lot concerning the current Senate Healthcare reform bill, and I will discuss this over the next week or two. I just wanted to share what the Wall Street Journal is saying, because I'm sure you have not heard about this. If you watch the news on healthcare reform, all you would know is that Sen. Lieberman will filibuster the bill if it contains a public option.
2000+ pages, and the media boils it down to, "Sen. Lieberman and the public option !!”
Think about that!!
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
(Click Here for Full Article)
The Journal points out some things that are extremely troubling:
“In other words, the Medicare commission would come to function much like the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which rations care in England. Or a similar Washington state board created in 2003 to control costs. Its handiwork isn't pretty
So far, the commission has banned knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis, discography for chronic back pain, and implantable infusion pumps for pain not related to cancer. This year, it is targeting such frivolous luxuries as knee replacements, spinal cord stimulation, a specialized autism therapy and MRIs of the abdomen, pelvis or breasts for cancer…
Currently, the commission is pushing through the most restrictive payment policy in the nation for drug-eluting cardiac stents—simply because bare metal stents are cheaper, even as they result in worse outcomes. If a patient is wheeled into the operating room with chest pains in an emergency, doctors will first have to determine if he's covered by a state plan, then the diameter of his blood vessels and his diabetic condition to decide on the appropriate stent. If they don't, Washington will not reimburse them for "inappropriate care."”
There is a lot concerning the current Senate Healthcare reform bill, and I will discuss this over the next week or two. I just wanted to share what the Wall Street Journal is saying, because I'm sure you have not heard about this. If you watch the news on healthcare reform, all you would know is that Sen. Lieberman will filibuster the bill if it contains a public option.
2000+ pages, and the media boils it down to, "Sen. Lieberman and the public option !!”
Think about that!!
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Monday, November 23, 2009
Cash or Accrual??...... What Does This Have To Do with Babies?
There are two methods of accounting, cash or accrual. Most households use cash and large businesses generally use accrual. What does this have to do with birth issues, you may be asking? Give me a moment, I promise it will all fit.
Cash is simple! You charge a client $200 they pay you $200, you record $200 as revenue. You receive a bill for $100, you mail a check for $100 and record $100 as the expense. "Simple!"
Accrual,…. not so simple! You send a client a bill for $1000, and record $1000 as revenue, even if you have not collected any money. You receive a bill for $500 and record a $500 expense, even if you have not paid the bill yet. A little more complicated.
Try this: you send an insurance company a bill for $5000. Under the accrual system, you record $5000 as income. Three months later, the insurance company sends you a check for $1100. You must then go back and make a $3900 adjustment to revenue to reflect the transaction and balance your books.
I think you can see my point! Many smaller businesses (and larger for that matter) can get into trouble with accrual accounting. You send in those $5000 claim form to insurance companies, and you think you've made $5000. It looks really great on the books, until the check comes and you have to make accounting adjustments. I have seen many birth practices get into trouble, because it looked really good in accrual, but really bad in cash.
Very often, when the government makes projections,. they think in terms of accrual. A 10% tax increase will bring in 10% more revenue. So they accrue, the extra 10%, and then they spend it, because in government accrual accounting, you show the revenue you expect to collect and then you spend it. Then the extra 10% does not come in, because people change the way they do business to avoid paying the10%, and now the government has a budget shortfall.
When the federal government has a budget shortfall, they print more money. When you have a budget shortfall in the birth practice, you close your doors!!!
Always keep an eye on the real bottom line.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Cash is simple! You charge a client $200 they pay you $200, you record $200 as revenue. You receive a bill for $100, you mail a check for $100 and record $100 as the expense. "Simple!"
Accrual,…. not so simple! You send a client a bill for $1000, and record $1000 as revenue, even if you have not collected any money. You receive a bill for $500 and record a $500 expense, even if you have not paid the bill yet. A little more complicated.
Try this: you send an insurance company a bill for $5000. Under the accrual system, you record $5000 as income. Three months later, the insurance company sends you a check for $1100. You must then go back and make a $3900 adjustment to revenue to reflect the transaction and balance your books.
I think you can see my point! Many smaller businesses (and larger for that matter) can get into trouble with accrual accounting. You send in those $5000 claim form to insurance companies, and you think you've made $5000. It looks really great on the books, until the check comes and you have to make accounting adjustments. I have seen many birth practices get into trouble, because it looked really good in accrual, but really bad in cash.
Very often, when the government makes projections,. they think in terms of accrual. A 10% tax increase will bring in 10% more revenue. So they accrue, the extra 10%, and then they spend it, because in government accrual accounting, you show the revenue you expect to collect and then you spend it. Then the extra 10% does not come in, because people change the way they do business to avoid paying the10%, and now the government has a budget shortfall.
When the federal government has a budget shortfall, they print more money. When you have a budget shortfall in the birth practice, you close your doors!!!
Always keep an eye on the real bottom line.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Friday, November 20, 2009
The 3P's, Which Has the Most Clout?
Yesterday, we discussed whether or not, Rush Limbaugh is worth $400 million. My point being, "your opinion has no bearing on whether or not he is worth $400 million.
Today we'll talk about the 3P's of healthcare: Payer….Provider…..Patient. Whose opinion matters most?
In a perfect world, the answer is easy, "THE PATIENT We do not live in a perfect world..
Some quick definitions:
Provider- usually a physician or hospital who invoices the payer. Providers can be a nurse or therapist, if they bill directly or indirectly through an agency. Usually the services are billed for by the facility, and so they are not normally considered providers.
Patient- the person getting treatment. At times, the relationship extends to family members who make decisions or collaborate on decisions with the patient.
Payer-usually an insurance company or the government; such as Medicare or Medicaid. Occasionally, the patient may be the payer.
We would like to think that providers carry great weight. However, they are constrained by insurance preauthorization, small reimbursements, drug formularies, government and insurance approvals and other parameters that do not always allow them to make the decision that is in the patient's best interests.
Then the patient has the most clout! This would be nice; however in the great majority of cases the patient doesn't pay the bill. It's usually pay by insurance or Medicaid. Interestingly, when the patient wants to pay cash, often obstetricians do not want to accept it.
What if the patient understood how little the obstetrician gets paid from HMO or Medicaid. What if the patient says to the doctor: "I will pay you extra, give me more personalized care.” If the doctor takes the money he/ she would be breaking the law.
I guess the patient does not have much clout.
That leaves us with the payer! The payer can decide to pay more for a physician than midwife, pay for hospital birth but not a homebirth, pay for an anesthesiologist but not a labor coach, pay for infant formula. But not lactation consulting, or the payer can decide to put you, the provider ,in-network BUT require you to carry malpractice insurance which costs over $100,000 per year.
So, who has the most clout? By now, the answer is easy. So how can activists effect change? The answer... learn to speak the language of the payer!!!
Next week, more about hybrid birth centers, also "Are Death Panels. Becoming Reality?"
Have a great weekend
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Today we'll talk about the 3P's of healthcare: Payer….Provider…..Patient. Whose opinion matters most?
In a perfect world, the answer is easy, "THE PATIENT We do not live in a perfect world..
Some quick definitions:
Provider- usually a physician or hospital who invoices the payer. Providers can be a nurse or therapist, if they bill directly or indirectly through an agency. Usually the services are billed for by the facility, and so they are not normally considered providers.
Patient- the person getting treatment. At times, the relationship extends to family members who make decisions or collaborate on decisions with the patient.
Payer-usually an insurance company or the government; such as Medicare or Medicaid. Occasionally, the patient may be the payer.
We would like to think that providers carry great weight. However, they are constrained by insurance preauthorization, small reimbursements, drug formularies, government and insurance approvals and other parameters that do not always allow them to make the decision that is in the patient's best interests.
Then the patient has the most clout! This would be nice; however in the great majority of cases the patient doesn't pay the bill. It's usually pay by insurance or Medicaid. Interestingly, when the patient wants to pay cash, often obstetricians do not want to accept it.
What if the patient understood how little the obstetrician gets paid from HMO or Medicaid. What if the patient says to the doctor: "I will pay you extra, give me more personalized care.” If the doctor takes the money he/ she would be breaking the law.
I guess the patient does not have much clout.
That leaves us with the payer! The payer can decide to pay more for a physician than midwife, pay for hospital birth but not a homebirth, pay for an anesthesiologist but not a labor coach, pay for infant formula. But not lactation consulting, or the payer can decide to put you, the provider ,in-network BUT require you to carry malpractice insurance which costs over $100,000 per year.
So, who has the most clout? By now, the answer is easy. So how can activists effect change? The answer... learn to speak the language of the payer!!!
Next week, more about hybrid birth centers, also "Are Death Panels. Becoming Reality?"
Have a great weekend
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Is Rush Limbaugh Worth $400 Million?
Your first reaction is probably, "what does this have to do with "birth issues?"
Bear with me a moment, I promise to connect the dots.
About a year ago, controversial radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh signed a contract for $400 million (over eight years). Immediately, every newspaper, magazine,, radio and television talk show asked their viewers, readers and listeners to vote on whether or not, Rush Limbaugh was worth $400 million?.
Anyone who “voted” does not get it!! Their opinion is meaningless. If you hate Rush and voted NO, or love Rush and voted YES, either way, the opinion and the vote has zero meaning and zero value.
The only vote that matters, is that of the producers of Rush Limbaugh's program which writes the check for $400 million. Also, they could not care less what your vote is.
The only factor they consider in determining whether Rush is worth $400 million is: "Will enough listeners in a preferable demographic audience listen to the show, so the advertisers will pay enough money to have their messages heard, to make the show profitable?”
In other words, the only criteria is: are there enough advertisers who will pay enough money so that not only does Rush Limbaugh get$400 million and the staff and expenses are paid, BUT the investors can also make a profit..
Any other consideration of peoples opinions does not play into this mix.
Tomorrow, I will talk about the 3P's: patients, providers and payers. Does my Rush Limbaugh discussion give you any clue which one of the 3P's. has the most clout?
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
PS- I try to schedule posts to show up at around 8am CST. Sometimes the system glitches and I have to manually post. Sorry for the inconsistancy
Bear with me a moment, I promise to connect the dots.
About a year ago, controversial radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh signed a contract for $400 million (over eight years). Immediately, every newspaper, magazine,, radio and television talk show asked their viewers, readers and listeners to vote on whether or not, Rush Limbaugh was worth $400 million?.
Anyone who “voted” does not get it!! Their opinion is meaningless. If you hate Rush and voted NO, or love Rush and voted YES, either way, the opinion and the vote has zero meaning and zero value.
The only vote that matters, is that of the producers of Rush Limbaugh's program which writes the check for $400 million. Also, they could not care less what your vote is.
The only factor they consider in determining whether Rush is worth $400 million is: "Will enough listeners in a preferable demographic audience listen to the show, so the advertisers will pay enough money to have their messages heard, to make the show profitable?”
In other words, the only criteria is: are there enough advertisers who will pay enough money so that not only does Rush Limbaugh get$400 million and the staff and expenses are paid, BUT the investors can also make a profit..
Any other consideration of peoples opinions does not play into this mix.
Tomorrow, I will talk about the 3P's: patients, providers and payers. Does my Rush Limbaugh discussion give you any clue which one of the 3P's. has the most clout?
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
PS- I try to schedule posts to show up at around 8am CST. Sometimes the system glitches and I have to manually post. Sorry for the inconsistancy
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Comparing the Hybrid Birth Facility and Homebirth
Since Monday, we have been comparing birth centers to homebirth. First, the old one family house birth center. Then the larger, busy birth center compared to homebirth. Today we will discuss the future "hybrid birth facility." compared to homebirth.
As I wrote about on October 30th, the hybrid facility combines the benefits of a large birth center, with the cesarean section and pain relief capabilities. This model will be discussed in depth at the Controversies in Childbirth Conference, February 19-21 in Tampa, Florida.
Remember, there are two types of women that choose homebirth. "Those where homebirth is their first choice, and, those where homebirth is their last choice."
For those women who have researched, studied and re planned for homebirth, birthing at home is their only choices unless some complication causes them to have to go to a hospital.
However, for those women who are intimidated by the hospital, or afraid, they will have a cesarean, when they don't want one, or have heard about poor hospital experiences from their friends, or have tried everything to get the doctor or hospital to give them what they wanted and have been rebuffed, then they have no choice but to choose homebirth.
For those were homebirth is the first choice, they will continue to choose homebirth. For those were homebirth is the only choice that they have left, those women may choose this new birth facility
As I have previously stated, most women coming to our birth center had three questions: "Can I get something for the pain?"… "Is there a doctor available in the event of an emergency?"….. "What if the baby crashes, and I need an emergency cesarean?"
In a hybrid birth facility, the answers to these questions will be YES!!
If the providers running facility , do it right, then the answers to the following questions will also be "YES!"
Can I have a VBAC?
Can I have a natural birth?
Can I have a water birth?
Can I have intermittent fetal monitoring?
Can I deliver in any position I like?
Can a midwife deliver my baby?
There may be many more “YES” answers, but time runs short.
I do believe that this model may have a negative affect on those that choose homebirth as their first choice. That is,: many homebirth midwives may go to work in these hybrid birth facilities, thereby making it harder to find a midwife to deliver you at home.
Again, this model will be thoroughly discussed at the Controversies in Childbirth Conference. Please register today.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
PS- I try to schedule posts to show up at around 8am CST. Sometimes the system glitches and I have to manually post. Sorry for the inconsistancy
As I wrote about on October 30th, the hybrid facility combines the benefits of a large birth center, with the cesarean section and pain relief capabilities. This model will be discussed in depth at the Controversies in Childbirth Conference, February 19-21 in Tampa, Florida.
Remember, there are two types of women that choose homebirth. "Those where homebirth is their first choice, and, those where homebirth is their last choice."
For those women who have researched, studied and re planned for homebirth, birthing at home is their only choices unless some complication causes them to have to go to a hospital.
However, for those women who are intimidated by the hospital, or afraid, they will have a cesarean, when they don't want one, or have heard about poor hospital experiences from their friends, or have tried everything to get the doctor or hospital to give them what they wanted and have been rebuffed, then they have no choice but to choose homebirth.
For those were homebirth is the first choice, they will continue to choose homebirth. For those were homebirth is the only choice that they have left, those women may choose this new birth facility
As I have previously stated, most women coming to our birth center had three questions: "Can I get something for the pain?"… "Is there a doctor available in the event of an emergency?"….. "What if the baby crashes, and I need an emergency cesarean?"
In a hybrid birth facility, the answers to these questions will be YES!!
If the providers running facility , do it right, then the answers to the following questions will also be "YES!"
Can I have a VBAC?
Can I have a natural birth?
Can I have a water birth?
Can I have intermittent fetal monitoring?
Can I deliver in any position I like?
Can a midwife deliver my baby?
There may be many more “YES” answers, but time runs short.
I do believe that this model may have a negative affect on those that choose homebirth as their first choice. That is,: many homebirth midwives may go to work in these hybrid birth facilities, thereby making it harder to find a midwife to deliver you at home.
Again, this model will be thoroughly discussed at the Controversies in Childbirth Conference. Please register today.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
PS- I try to schedule posts to show up at around 8am CST. Sometimes the system glitches and I have to manually post. Sorry for the inconsistancy
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Birth Centers, Past, Present, and Home Birth
Yesterday, I explored the traditional one family house, versus homebirth and agreed there was not much difference.
But what about the model of birth center I have been involved in for many years? This is the larger birth center, with a volume of 25 or 40 or even 100 births a month, depending on which space we had.
Before someone comments about large birth centers can't give one-on-one care, the fact is the model that we had, gave fantastic one-on-one care. In fact, our outcomes in any of our facilities whether in the first world or the developing world exceeded the outcomes in the Netherlands, which is known for the best stats in the world. (Outcomes do not equal one-to-one care, we still gave one-to-one care).
Let's compare this type of birth center to the homebirth arguments (I'm not trying to take anything away from homebirth, just giving a different side to the debate).
Remember, the basic precepts that: “There's nothing you can do in a birth center that cannot be done at home.” This statement will continue to remain true in this blog posting, but you may not now see a difference.
Experience of Staff: Busy birth center staff is generally much more experienced. In Jamaica, our three senior midwives had over 25,000 out of hospital births between them (and only 73 episiotomies). Contrast this with a homebirth midwife, that does only three or four births per month.
Less Experienced Midwife Can Yell "Help”: When a less experienced midwife on staff ran into problem, she would call upon senior midwives, who had over. 5000 out of hospital birth experience to guide them.
No Shortage of Supplies: we were fanatical in making sure we had more than enough oxygen, IVs, sterile gloves, anti-hemorrhage drugs, vitamins, etc. This was a function of the admin staff and not the overworked midwifery staff.
Amazing Students: American and Canadian midwives would visit our facilities and could not believe our students were not experienced midwives. Keep in mind, when you are at 200-400 births in your first year as a student. you get pretty good, really quick.
Consistent Transport Relationships: unlike homebirth, where the nearest hospital changes pending on where a home is located, in a birth center, we usually go to the same hospital over and over. This can make for better communications and relationships between hospital and birth center staff.
Back-up Obstetrician: With our volume, obstetricians would find it financially viable to work with us. This helps in collaborative care or transport situations.
Ability to Integrate Other Healthcare Providers: since the birth center is in one place and quite busy, providers such as pediatricians, chiropractors as well as alternative providers would find it worth their while to keep regular appointments at the birth center or to give birth center moms top priority.
I could go on and on, but I believe, you get the point. There are many advantages to this birth center model over homebirth. This does not mean every mom will choose this birth center model. But now, there are is benefits that families can weigh when making the decision.
Most importantly, the vast majority of women are not going to choose homebirth, but they will consider this type of birth center.
Tomorrow-comparing the hybrid birth facility to these other models.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
But what about the model of birth center I have been involved in for many years? This is the larger birth center, with a volume of 25 or 40 or even 100 births a month, depending on which space we had.
Before someone comments about large birth centers can't give one-on-one care, the fact is the model that we had, gave fantastic one-on-one care. In fact, our outcomes in any of our facilities whether in the first world or the developing world exceeded the outcomes in the Netherlands, which is known for the best stats in the world. (Outcomes do not equal one-to-one care, we still gave one-to-one care).
Let's compare this type of birth center to the homebirth arguments (I'm not trying to take anything away from homebirth, just giving a different side to the debate).
Remember, the basic precepts that: “There's nothing you can do in a birth center that cannot be done at home.” This statement will continue to remain true in this blog posting, but you may not now see a difference.
Experience of Staff: Busy birth center staff is generally much more experienced. In Jamaica, our three senior midwives had over 25,000 out of hospital births between them (and only 73 episiotomies). Contrast this with a homebirth midwife, that does only three or four births per month.
Less Experienced Midwife Can Yell "Help”: When a less experienced midwife on staff ran into problem, she would call upon senior midwives, who had over. 5000 out of hospital birth experience to guide them.
No Shortage of Supplies: we were fanatical in making sure we had more than enough oxygen, IVs, sterile gloves, anti-hemorrhage drugs, vitamins, etc. This was a function of the admin staff and not the overworked midwifery staff.
Amazing Students: American and Canadian midwives would visit our facilities and could not believe our students were not experienced midwives. Keep in mind, when you are at 200-400 births in your first year as a student. you get pretty good, really quick.
Consistent Transport Relationships: unlike homebirth, where the nearest hospital changes pending on where a home is located, in a birth center, we usually go to the same hospital over and over. This can make for better communications and relationships between hospital and birth center staff.
Back-up Obstetrician: With our volume, obstetricians would find it financially viable to work with us. This helps in collaborative care or transport situations.
Ability to Integrate Other Healthcare Providers: since the birth center is in one place and quite busy, providers such as pediatricians, chiropractors as well as alternative providers would find it worth their while to keep regular appointments at the birth center or to give birth center moms top priority.
I could go on and on, but I believe, you get the point. There are many advantages to this birth center model over homebirth. This does not mean every mom will choose this birth center model. But now, there are is benefits that families can weigh when making the decision.
Most importantly, the vast majority of women are not going to choose homebirth, but they will consider this type of birth center.
Tomorrow-comparing the hybrid birth facility to these other models.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Monday, November 16, 2009
Birth Centers Versus Homebirth
Over the next few days I will look at birth centers vs. home birth.
Last week, Rixa Freeze asked her readers to comment on her blog about freestanding birth centers as opposed to homebirth. She referenced an article she wrote in 2007 entitled "Worst of Both Worlds."
I would like to thank Rixa for talking about the hybrid birth facility and also mention that Dr. Stuart Fischbein is thinking along the same lines.
In some respects, asking her blog readers their opinion of birth center versus homebirth may not be fair. The reason is that almost all U.S. birth centers were designed to look like home birth, therefore in most instances, there is no major difference between freestanding birth centers and home birth, other than women at homebirth are more comfortable in their own home’s.
It is my personal belief, and I have spoken on it on many occasions, that the U.S. birth center model that most birth centers follow is not a viable, business model. Granted, the outcomes are generally excellent, however, most of these birth centers have been struggling financially.
Today's birth center’s still follows the model that was developed in the mid 1970’s: “Find a one family house, make one or two birth rooms, an exam room , an office and a classroom and you now have a birth center."
With the above model, it's easy to see Rixa’s point of worst of both worlds. In fact, ACOG’s change in its statement accepting birth center's while stating that out of hospital birth is unsafe, would be laughable, since there's almost nothing you can do in a a birth center that cannot be done at a homebirth. This statement, however, is easier to defend, since they limited their acceptance of birth centers to those that are accredited. This does not mean that I believe this statement is right, it just means they can offer a defense. (This does not insinuate that the defense is a good one).
Tomorrow- Birth Centers of the Past VS Birth Centers of the Present
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Last week, Rixa Freeze asked her readers to comment on her blog about freestanding birth centers as opposed to homebirth. She referenced an article she wrote in 2007 entitled "Worst of Both Worlds."
I would like to thank Rixa for talking about the hybrid birth facility and also mention that Dr. Stuart Fischbein is thinking along the same lines.
In some respects, asking her blog readers their opinion of birth center versus homebirth may not be fair. The reason is that almost all U.S. birth centers were designed to look like home birth, therefore in most instances, there is no major difference between freestanding birth centers and home birth, other than women at homebirth are more comfortable in their own home’s.
It is my personal belief, and I have spoken on it on many occasions, that the U.S. birth center model that most birth centers follow is not a viable, business model. Granted, the outcomes are generally excellent, however, most of these birth centers have been struggling financially.
Today's birth center’s still follows the model that was developed in the mid 1970’s: “Find a one family house, make one or two birth rooms, an exam room , an office and a classroom and you now have a birth center."
With the above model, it's easy to see Rixa’s point of worst of both worlds. In fact, ACOG’s change in its statement accepting birth center's while stating that out of hospital birth is unsafe, would be laughable, since there's almost nothing you can do in a a birth center that cannot be done at a homebirth. This statement, however, is easier to defend, since they limited their acceptance of birth centers to those that are accredited. This does not mean that I believe this statement is right, it just means they can offer a defense. (This does not insinuate that the defense is a good one).
Tomorrow- Birth Centers of the Past VS Birth Centers of the Present
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Friday, November 13, 2009
Failed Attempt, Fail to Transport, Failed Defense, and Too Much Pain
Continuing with new sessions that have been announced for the Controversies in Childbirth Conference in sunny Tampa, Florida February 19 to 21st 2010.
Botched Out Of Hospital Birth or Appropriate Transport.?.. Building Working Relationships
As more women choose out of hospital births, mathematically hospitals and on-call obstetricians will see more transports. A transport is the need to take a woman in labor from her out of hospital setting:. (homebirth or birth center) into a hospital environment for whatever reason.
In the past, labor transports have gotten quite ugly with midwives and OB/hospital personnel trading charges of incompetence, negligence, attempted murder, etc.
Now, Melissa (Missy) Cheyney CPM PhD will chair a panel consisting of both midwives that initiate transport, and hospital personnel that receive the transport.
This session will examine how the distrust between the midwife and hospitals developed and strengthened over time. How midwives and hospital personnel have sat down and come together to reduce the animosity when a transport occurs. Devise ways of better care for the patient, and even develop cordial relationships and understandings of the roles that each professional plays as venue and responsibility for birth, changes in a transport.
Is Natural Birth Antithetical to the Practice of Nursing?
Most women who become nurses (and also those men) do so out of desire to help sick people get better. There is a kindness and compassion associated with the image of nursing. Nurses are healers and patient advocates.
Many patients who have been admitted to a hospital mention how often nurses coming in the room ask, "how is the pain.?" In fact a major component of the practice of nursing is pain management. Most nurses feel fulfilled when they can give some medication to relieve the pain, thus making the patient "feel better." Generally, the greater the pain, the more the nurse wants to help.
So how do nurses feel when women choose unmedicated natural birth? Do they have difficulty listening to the pain increase? Does the yelling as contractions get stronger emotionally bother the nurse? Is not giving the patient anything for the pain, contrary to the nurses beliefs?
Case Study: Lessons Learned from a Failed Attempt to Open a Natural Birth Center
Robyn Thompson, MPH, MSW, LMSW, formed an organization in San Antonio Texas to try to open a natural birth center. A coalition representing midwives, physicians, consumers, legal interests, business interests, and public health advocates was brought together to try to make this dream a reality.
This birth center never got off the ground. At the conference, Robin will explore the reasons it did not happen, lessons learned, and what changes need to be made to make the concept viable.
Protecting Yourself From Investigations By Your Regulatory Board
Attorney Max Price is back, and will give amazing insight into litigating professional board, licensure and discipline actions. How you interact with the board from the time of receiving your “Initial Notice” can have a significant effect on the outcome and cost of your case.
Do you respond to their initial request for information, do you ignore it, or do you hire an attorney? What happens when you receive a subpoena for your documents? Do you comply, and if you do, have you hurt the case? If you don't turn over the documents, can you lose your license?
Does signing a plea agreement make you more likely to be investigated in the future as opposed to someone who fights tooth and nail every time they're wrongfully accused by the licensing board?
I have first-hand experience with Max, and can tell you that if when you receive a “Letter of Investigation,” IMMEDIATELY call Max Price, no matter what state you're in.
Have a great weekend and don't forget to register today Controversies in Childbirth Conference.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Next week, more discussion about the seminars on the hybrid birth facility, and a look at,: birth centers versus homebirth.
Botched Out Of Hospital Birth or Appropriate Transport.?.. Building Working Relationships
As more women choose out of hospital births, mathematically hospitals and on-call obstetricians will see more transports. A transport is the need to take a woman in labor from her out of hospital setting:. (homebirth or birth center) into a hospital environment for whatever reason.
In the past, labor transports have gotten quite ugly with midwives and OB/hospital personnel trading charges of incompetence, negligence, attempted murder, etc.
Now, Melissa (Missy) Cheyney CPM PhD will chair a panel consisting of both midwives that initiate transport, and hospital personnel that receive the transport.
This session will examine how the distrust between the midwife and hospitals developed and strengthened over time. How midwives and hospital personnel have sat down and come together to reduce the animosity when a transport occurs. Devise ways of better care for the patient, and even develop cordial relationships and understandings of the roles that each professional plays as venue and responsibility for birth, changes in a transport.
Is Natural Birth Antithetical to the Practice of Nursing?
Most women who become nurses (and also those men) do so out of desire to help sick people get better. There is a kindness and compassion associated with the image of nursing. Nurses are healers and patient advocates.
Many patients who have been admitted to a hospital mention how often nurses coming in the room ask, "how is the pain.?" In fact a major component of the practice of nursing is pain management. Most nurses feel fulfilled when they can give some medication to relieve the pain, thus making the patient "feel better." Generally, the greater the pain, the more the nurse wants to help.
So how do nurses feel when women choose unmedicated natural birth? Do they have difficulty listening to the pain increase? Does the yelling as contractions get stronger emotionally bother the nurse? Is not giving the patient anything for the pain, contrary to the nurses beliefs?
Case Study: Lessons Learned from a Failed Attempt to Open a Natural Birth Center
Robyn Thompson, MPH, MSW, LMSW, formed an organization in San Antonio Texas to try to open a natural birth center. A coalition representing midwives, physicians, consumers, legal interests, business interests, and public health advocates was brought together to try to make this dream a reality.
This birth center never got off the ground. At the conference, Robin will explore the reasons it did not happen, lessons learned, and what changes need to be made to make the concept viable.
Protecting Yourself From Investigations By Your Regulatory Board
Attorney Max Price is back, and will give amazing insight into litigating professional board, licensure and discipline actions. How you interact with the board from the time of receiving your “Initial Notice” can have a significant effect on the outcome and cost of your case.
Do you respond to their initial request for information, do you ignore it, or do you hire an attorney? What happens when you receive a subpoena for your documents? Do you comply, and if you do, have you hurt the case? If you don't turn over the documents, can you lose your license?
Does signing a plea agreement make you more likely to be investigated in the future as opposed to someone who fights tooth and nail every time they're wrongfully accused by the licensing board?
I have first-hand experience with Max, and can tell you that if when you receive a “Letter of Investigation,” IMMEDIATELY call Max Price, no matter what state you're in.
Have a great weekend and don't forget to register today Controversies in Childbirth Conference.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Next week, more discussion about the seminars on the hybrid birth facility, and a look at,: birth centers versus homebirth.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Birth Centers, Birth Plans, Doulas and the Internet
Today we'll discuss some more seminars that have been added to the Controversies in Childbirth Conference.
What Birthing Couples Are Saying About Their….OBs, Midwives, Doulas & Hospitals, On the Internet.
Do you think that anyone under age 40 makes a hotel reservation without checking the reviews on websitea like TripAdvisor? What about a cruise? Would you go on a cruise without reading the reviews? Would you buy a car today withoutt reading reviews and ratings?
The Internet can be a friend or a foe to someone's business. Since you're reading this on my blog, you already know this. What do you think patients/clients and potential patients/clients of birth care providers are saying about the obstetrician, midwife, doula or the hospital they plan on having their baby at?
Uber-geek and birth activists, Laureen Hudson is going to show us what patients / clients are saying about their birth providers. We will also look at whether or not the providers or facilities really care. Laureen will also explore if there is a correlation between what appears on the Internet, and a loss of business in the practice.
Why Obstetricians Hate Birth Plans?
A pregnant woman goes online, communicating with her friends and new online friends to discuss the perfect birth plan. More planning may have gone into the birth plan then her wedding. She proudly shows it on her next visit to her obstetrician, whose reaction may range from slight annoyance to pointing to the sign in the office that says: "If you have a birth plan, we invite you to find another doctor."
Why do OBs feel the way they do about birth plans? Is it extra work? Unrealistic expectations? Barriers to effective communication? Lack of trust by the patient? This panel will explore these questions from both the OB and consumer perspective.
Why Hospital Staff Are Confused by the Role of the Doula
If you ask a room full of: obstetricians, midwives, nurses, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, and anyone else in the hospital, “What is the role of a Doula.?’ You may receive as many answers as there are people in the room.
Physician reactions to doulas run the gamut from recommending them to pregnant women, all the way to firing a patient that hires a doula. Even midwives who generally appear supportive are split on the issue. Some love labor Doulas, while others feel that the Doula infringes on the care the midwife gives.
Some Doulas sell their services as cesarean section insurance , while others will not attend a mother, who plans a hospital birth.
Doula trainers Rae Davies and Candy Mueller will lead a panel that will explore doula confusion and hopefully provide solutions to end this confusion.
Can Chiropractors Safely Turn Breeches, Or Are They Endangering Babies?
Since a breech presentation means an almost automatic cesarean section, many women are searching for methods of turning the breech. This can range from slant boards, to playing loud music with the speakers on the belly, to external version.
Chiropractors have devised a method of allowing the breech to turn, known as "The Webster Technique," a chiropractic technique designed to relieve the causes of intrauterine constraint, thus causing the baby to turn.
So why do obstetricians NOT routinely refer women with breech presentations to chiropractors? This session will not only explore and analyze the Webster technique, but will also delve into the distrust between chiropractors and physicians.
Dr. Alexa Fagan is a Tampa area chiropractor and member of The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) who has a successful record of adjusting women, so the baby can turn from breech to vertex. An obstetrician will round out the panel, allowing for a lively discussion.
For more information go to the conference website http://www.birthconference.org/
Tune in tomorrow for more seminar announcements.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
What Birthing Couples Are Saying About Their….OBs, Midwives, Doulas & Hospitals, On the Internet.
Do you think that anyone under age 40 makes a hotel reservation without checking the reviews on websitea like TripAdvisor? What about a cruise? Would you go on a cruise without reading the reviews? Would you buy a car today withoutt reading reviews and ratings?
The Internet can be a friend or a foe to someone's business. Since you're reading this on my blog, you already know this. What do you think patients/clients and potential patients/clients of birth care providers are saying about the obstetrician, midwife, doula or the hospital they plan on having their baby at?
Uber-geek and birth activists, Laureen Hudson is going to show us what patients / clients are saying about their birth providers. We will also look at whether or not the providers or facilities really care. Laureen will also explore if there is a correlation between what appears on the Internet, and a loss of business in the practice.
Why Obstetricians Hate Birth Plans?
A pregnant woman goes online, communicating with her friends and new online friends to discuss the perfect birth plan. More planning may have gone into the birth plan then her wedding. She proudly shows it on her next visit to her obstetrician, whose reaction may range from slight annoyance to pointing to the sign in the office that says: "If you have a birth plan, we invite you to find another doctor."
Why do OBs feel the way they do about birth plans? Is it extra work? Unrealistic expectations? Barriers to effective communication? Lack of trust by the patient? This panel will explore these questions from both the OB and consumer perspective.
Why Hospital Staff Are Confused by the Role of the Doula
If you ask a room full of: obstetricians, midwives, nurses, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, and anyone else in the hospital, “What is the role of a Doula.?’ You may receive as many answers as there are people in the room.
Physician reactions to doulas run the gamut from recommending them to pregnant women, all the way to firing a patient that hires a doula. Even midwives who generally appear supportive are split on the issue. Some love labor Doulas, while others feel that the Doula infringes on the care the midwife gives.
Some Doulas sell their services as cesarean section insurance , while others will not attend a mother, who plans a hospital birth.
Doula trainers Rae Davies and Candy Mueller will lead a panel that will explore doula confusion and hopefully provide solutions to end this confusion.
Can Chiropractors Safely Turn Breeches, Or Are They Endangering Babies?
Since a breech presentation means an almost automatic cesarean section, many women are searching for methods of turning the breech. This can range from slant boards, to playing loud music with the speakers on the belly, to external version.
Chiropractors have devised a method of allowing the breech to turn, known as "The Webster Technique," a chiropractic technique designed to relieve the causes of intrauterine constraint, thus causing the baby to turn.
So why do obstetricians NOT routinely refer women with breech presentations to chiropractors? This session will not only explore and analyze the Webster technique, but will also delve into the distrust between chiropractors and physicians.
Dr. Alexa Fagan is a Tampa area chiropractor and member of The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) who has a successful record of adjusting women, so the baby can turn from breech to vertex. An obstetrician will round out the panel, allowing for a lively discussion.
For more information go to the conference website http://www.birthconference.org/
Tune in tomorrow for more seminar announcements.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
From VBAC to NHS to Health Freedom Acts
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I ended.
Today is Veterans Day! Whether it's a World War II Vet, Korean Vet, Vietnam Vet, Gulf War I, or returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, remember to thank them for their service to this great country.
Alan
Over a dozen amazing seminars and speakers have been announced for the 2010. Controversies in Childbirth Conference, February 19th through 21st in Tampa, Florida.
Over the next few days. I'll be blogging about the seminars, but you can go to the website today at: www.birthconference.org
Using Health Freedom Acts to Give Pregnant Patients What They Want
Are you tired of all the hand wringing and finger-pointing that occurs when a pregnant woman asks her, midwife, doctor or hospital for something and they say “NO” such as: no fetal monitor, vaginal breech delivery, or VBAC? Then they blame each other for the prohibition.
A few states have enacted, "Health Freedom Acts" that allows healthcare providers. under certain circumstances, to go against the conventional wisdom of their college or regulatory boards.
Florida attorney Max R. Price, was instrumental in passing and defending the law in the State of Florida. Obstetricians, midwives, chiropractors and other healthcare professionals have an amazing weapon at their disposal to help their clients/patients, yet many do not know that the law exists or that it can be easily lobbied for in those states that have not yet and. enacted As legislation.
Max will explain the scope and limits of these laws, and who your allies would be in trying to bring these laws to your state.
The VBAC Issue From the Obstetricians’ Point of View
ICAN and other birth advocates can give a litany of stories and cases where women have been traumatized, lied to, misled, misinformed, and perhaps even assaulted, in their effort NOT to have a repeat cesarean section.
Kim J. Cox, PhD, CNM, is an Assistant Professor in the Nurse-Midwifery program at the University of Florida College of Nursing.
Kim has interviewed and compiled a study of how obstetricians and midwives view of the VBAC issue, who they blame for it, and how they would like to deal with it. This will be an amazing seminar, because it brings the collective voices of the obstetricians to the table.
Are Birth Care Professionals Responsible for Women Choosing Unassisted Homebirth?
What can almost every obstetrician, nurse midwife, homebirth midwife, doula, family physician or childbirth educators agree on? They don't recommend unassisted homebirth.
Yet, planned unassisted homebirth is on the rise in North America. Why is this? Are women so afraid of their provider or their facility, that they will engage in a practice that is considered unsafe by almost every medical professional?
Rixa Freeze , Ph.D. has studied this phenomena and will explore in detail, including: What experiences drive women to consider this option? How are midwives, doctors, nurses, and hospitals implicated in women's choice to avoid birth attendants altogether? Can we or should we outlaw unassisted birth, or prosecute the parents for child abuse or endangerment?
As you can see, this will be a truly controversial subject.
Childbirth Practices: Lessons From Two UK Hospitals
During the health care reform debate, we heard much about the English health care system, where, not only is there full universal coverage, but there is also only one employer, the: "National Health Service." Almost all physicians and nurses and hospitals work for the NHS.
Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN is the chair of the Midwifery program at Yale University. She has studied two maternity care hospitals in England that advocates evidence-based care of childbearing women. She will present the results of her study, specifically looking to see if what worked in England can be imported to the United States.
Our speaker: Holly Powell Kennedy is also the President-elect of the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Tomorrow we will discuss some of the more seminars that have been added. Please go to our website at: http://www.birthconference.org/ to view all the seminars
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Can a Birth Conference Really Be Neutral?
One of the major differences of the Controversies in Childbirth Conference is that we claim to be a neutral venue for inclusive discussion. I have been asked and have heard people asking others, "Can a conference really be neutral?"
One of the things that makes "Controversies" different is that is not produced by a membership organization. It is a totally independent conference. All membership or association conferences are self-serving! They are designed to make you feel good about the job you're doing and to feel good about the association that you belong to and pay your dues to. Therefore, you will probably not see a seminar on the schedule of an association conference that is critical of the association or the profession.
Next, associations are extraordinarily political!!! There are official and unofficial hierarchies. There is generally paid staff who want to keep their jobs and not rock the boat. Often you will hear someone say that they don't submit speaker abstracts, because some officer, director or muckety-muck doesn't like them and has blocked them from appearing on panels in the past.
Rarely will you find debate in a session between the presenters. One reason for this is that the association does not want members leaving the room yelling at other members. Remember, association conferences usually contain business meetings, and someone needs someone else’s support to get elected or to get a project passed through the board or membership.
The Controversies in Childbirth Conference is different. There are no business meetings, there is no hierarchy, and there is no politics. There is a small group of people that help with the conference and also help decide on seminars and speakers. As the conference coordinator, I try very hard to keep these people's identity secret. This avoids the unpleasantness of receiving phone calls from friends, trying to get other friends on the program or get seminar topics approved.
Being neutral also means that there is no agenda hidden or otherwise. It's not about showing homebirth is good, epidural so good, obstetricians are bad, midwives are bad, etc. Many panels are done in debate or panel format with presenters who may not agree with each other. Please know that although there may be disagreement, everyone involved with the conference is committed to professional, civilized discourse and discussion.
If you want to hear how great homebirth is, go to MANA. Want to feel good about doulas? Go to DONA. Want to feel good about the contributions of OB/GYN's ? Goto ACOG. Need a pat on the back for being a nurse midwife? Go to ACNM. I could go on and on.
Do you want to hear the issues that other professionals involved in birth face, in an unbiased professional manner? Come to the Controversies in Childbirth Conference! !
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Starting Wednesday, we will talk about the newly announced seminars for the conference.
One of the things that makes "Controversies" different is that is not produced by a membership organization. It is a totally independent conference. All membership or association conferences are self-serving! They are designed to make you feel good about the job you're doing and to feel good about the association that you belong to and pay your dues to. Therefore, you will probably not see a seminar on the schedule of an association conference that is critical of the association or the profession.
Next, associations are extraordinarily political!!! There are official and unofficial hierarchies. There is generally paid staff who want to keep their jobs and not rock the boat. Often you will hear someone say that they don't submit speaker abstracts, because some officer, director or muckety-muck doesn't like them and has blocked them from appearing on panels in the past.
Rarely will you find debate in a session between the presenters. One reason for this is that the association does not want members leaving the room yelling at other members. Remember, association conferences usually contain business meetings, and someone needs someone else’s support to get elected or to get a project passed through the board or membership.
The Controversies in Childbirth Conference is different. There are no business meetings, there is no hierarchy, and there is no politics. There is a small group of people that help with the conference and also help decide on seminars and speakers. As the conference coordinator, I try very hard to keep these people's identity secret. This avoids the unpleasantness of receiving phone calls from friends, trying to get other friends on the program or get seminar topics approved.
Being neutral also means that there is no agenda hidden or otherwise. It's not about showing homebirth is good, epidural so good, obstetricians are bad, midwives are bad, etc. Many panels are done in debate or panel format with presenters who may not agree with each other. Please know that although there may be disagreement, everyone involved with the conference is committed to professional, civilized discourse and discussion.
If you want to hear how great homebirth is, go to MANA. Want to feel good about doulas? Go to DONA. Want to feel good about the contributions of OB/GYN's ? Goto ACOG. Need a pat on the back for being a nurse midwife? Go to ACNM. I could go on and on.
Do you want to hear the issues that other professionals involved in birth face, in an unbiased professional manner? Come to the Controversies in Childbirth Conference! !
Alan
Alan@birthconference.org
Starting Wednesday, we will talk about the newly announced seminars for the conference.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Whose Job Is It to Prevent Premature Birth?
By now, everyone knows that the US ranks 30th in infant mortality. I could point to the fact that different countries report infant mortality statistics differently, to say that it's not as bad as it sounds. For today's post, let's accept that. #30 is very, very bad.
On Friday, November 6th, I said "Let's stop calling it, "Healthcare Reform" and let's call it "Health Payment Reform." I now propose we change the name From "Health Insurance" to "Sick Insurance!"
Why sick insurance instead of health insurance? Because our system pays the medical expenses for people who are sick or injured. There may be token payments for annual physicals, etc., but the bulk of the payment is for sickness or injury.
So the United States has this high prematurity rate? The media is in a tizzy! The birth advocates are in a tizzy! The health reform advocates are in a tizzy! My question is, "Has anyone proposed anything that will lower the prematurity rate?"
For years I tried convincing HMOs and health insurance companies, as I was negotiating contracts, that our birth center should receive a "Healthy Baby Dividend” because our prematurity rate was 1/2 of 1% (0.05%). Every premature birth that we prevented saved an insurance company at least $100,000.
Needless to say, no insurance company was willing to pay a “Healthy Baby Dividend.” If the baby was born premature, they would happily pay the $100,000 NICU bill, but they would not pay a dime as a reward for preventing prematurity.
If we really want to bring the prematurity rate down, we should pay cash incentives to physicians and midwives who can show a much lower prematurity rate than the national average, with of course a formula to compensate for high-risk patients.
Only when we are willing to put our money where our mouth is, and pay incentive bonuses for healthy babies as opposed to sick babies, will we start taking steps toward reducing prematurity and making America healthier.
Alan.
Alan@ birthconference.org
Tomorrow-amazing seminars being announced at Controversies in Childbirth Conference
On Friday, November 6th, I said "Let's stop calling it, "Healthcare Reform" and let's call it "Health Payment Reform." I now propose we change the name From "Health Insurance" to "Sick Insurance!"
Why sick insurance instead of health insurance? Because our system pays the medical expenses for people who are sick or injured. There may be token payments for annual physicals, etc., but the bulk of the payment is for sickness or injury.
So the United States has this high prematurity rate? The media is in a tizzy! The birth advocates are in a tizzy! The health reform advocates are in a tizzy! My question is, "Has anyone proposed anything that will lower the prematurity rate?"
For years I tried convincing HMOs and health insurance companies, as I was negotiating contracts, that our birth center should receive a "Healthy Baby Dividend” because our prematurity rate was 1/2 of 1% (0.05%). Every premature birth that we prevented saved an insurance company at least $100,000.
Needless to say, no insurance company was willing to pay a “Healthy Baby Dividend.” If the baby was born premature, they would happily pay the $100,000 NICU bill, but they would not pay a dime as a reward for preventing prematurity.
If we really want to bring the prematurity rate down, we should pay cash incentives to physicians and midwives who can show a much lower prematurity rate than the national average, with of course a formula to compensate for high-risk patients.
Only when we are willing to put our money where our mouth is, and pay incentive bonuses for healthy babies as opposed to sick babies, will we start taking steps toward reducing prematurity and making America healthier.
Alan.
Alan@ birthconference.org
Tomorrow-amazing seminars being announced at Controversies in Childbirth Conference
Friday, November 6, 2009
Some People Just Won't Buy Healthcare
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the fines on individuals and employers for not having health insurance will bring in $167 billion over 10 years, which they are counting on to offset the $1 trillion plus dollar cost of health reform.
(Click here to read this report)
It seems a little perverse that the CBO believes that the IRS can collect fines from people who illegally decide not to carry health insurance. Why do they think the IRS will send out a lot of tax bills to poor people that can’t afford to pay for health insurance and this money will be collected?
This is interesting, but, not the point of today's blog. I'm getting tired of using the term healthcare, when we mean health insurance. Keep in mind that with all the proposals there will still be deductibles and co-pays, because, there is no proposal for true first dollar universal healthcare.
The following quote appears in the above article: "There's just going to be some people who choose rather to pay (the fine) than to pay for health care," said Stephanie Lundberg, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. "There's going to be some people that just philosophically don't want to buy health care."
What about all the alternative medical/healthcare providers? If you go chiropractor and pay cash, aren't you buying healthcare? If you pay cash at the dentist, aren’t you buying healthcare? If you go to Wal-Mart for glasses, aren't you buying healthcare? If you go to a reike healer, aren't you buying healthcare? If you go to an acupuncturist, aren't you buying healthcare? If you pay cash to a mental health therapist, aren't you buying healthcare?
I hope you get my point! I vehemently object to the politicians and pundits calling this healthcare reform. We are not reforming healthcare, we are changing the system that pays for some types of healthcare. Why can't we just call it, "Health Payment Reform!"
As things stand now, there is a lot of doubt that a health reform bill will be signed by the President before the Controversies in Childbirth Conference, February 19-21, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. The sad thing is, I really don't know if that's good or bad. The system is broke and needs fixing, I just don’t know for sure whether or not, the proposed cure is better than the perceived disease?
Have a great weekend.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
(Click here to read this report)
It seems a little perverse that the CBO believes that the IRS can collect fines from people who illegally decide not to carry health insurance. Why do they think the IRS will send out a lot of tax bills to poor people that can’t afford to pay for health insurance and this money will be collected?
This is interesting, but, not the point of today's blog. I'm getting tired of using the term healthcare, when we mean health insurance. Keep in mind that with all the proposals there will still be deductibles and co-pays, because, there is no proposal for true first dollar universal healthcare.
The following quote appears in the above article: "There's just going to be some people who choose rather to pay (the fine) than to pay for health care," said Stephanie Lundberg, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. "There's going to be some people that just philosophically don't want to buy health care."
What about all the alternative medical/healthcare providers? If you go chiropractor and pay cash, aren't you buying healthcare? If you pay cash at the dentist, aren’t you buying healthcare? If you go to Wal-Mart for glasses, aren't you buying healthcare? If you go to a reike healer, aren't you buying healthcare? If you go to an acupuncturist, aren't you buying healthcare? If you pay cash to a mental health therapist, aren't you buying healthcare?
I hope you get my point! I vehemently object to the politicians and pundits calling this healthcare reform. We are not reforming healthcare, we are changing the system that pays for some types of healthcare. Why can't we just call it, "Health Payment Reform!"
As things stand now, there is a lot of doubt that a health reform bill will be signed by the President before the Controversies in Childbirth Conference, February 19-21, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. The sad thing is, I really don't know if that's good or bad. The system is broke and needs fixing, I just don’t know for sure whether or not, the proposed cure is better than the perceived disease?
Have a great weekend.
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Same Set of Facts,... Totally Opposite Conclusion
About 15 years ago, the cesarean-section rate was climbing to alarming levels. At that time, insurers and Medicaid paid substantially more for cesarean sections, then for vaginal birth. The payers decreed that henceforth: vaginal birth and cesarean section will pay the same.
The obstetricians said: "Do you expect us to perform surgery for the same amount of money as a vaginal birth?" Thus, for the same amount of money, the obstetricians started doing more vaginal birth and cesarean rates declined.
A generation of obstetricians later, the cesarean section rate is at an all time high and climbs with no end in sight. When asked, “Why the change?”, the response that can be read between the lines is: "For the same amount of money, do you really expect us to go into the hospital at all hours of the night and wait hours to deliver a baby, when we can do a cesarean during normal business hours in 15 minutes?”
The same set of circumstances: “paying equal for cesarean as for vaginal delivery,” yielded totally opposite results. The reason depends on where you started. If you were being paid more for cesareans and the change came paying the same, then you felt that you feel your work is being devalued and you would lean toward non-surgery. However, if you were ALREADY being paid the same, then the amount of extra and unpredictable time that it takes to do a vaginal delivery would be hard to justify.
That is why it is important to understand someone's current mindset and to propose changes based on how things are operating today, and not how they operated years ago. You cannot understand a person, unless you've walked a mile in their shoes (or moccasins, or sneakers, or Birkenstocks).
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
The obstetricians said: "Do you expect us to perform surgery for the same amount of money as a vaginal birth?" Thus, for the same amount of money, the obstetricians started doing more vaginal birth and cesarean rates declined.
A generation of obstetricians later, the cesarean section rate is at an all time high and climbs with no end in sight. When asked, “Why the change?”, the response that can be read between the lines is: "For the same amount of money, do you really expect us to go into the hospital at all hours of the night and wait hours to deliver a baby, when we can do a cesarean during normal business hours in 15 minutes?”
The same set of circumstances: “paying equal for cesarean as for vaginal delivery,” yielded totally opposite results. The reason depends on where you started. If you were being paid more for cesareans and the change came paying the same, then you felt that you feel your work is being devalued and you would lean toward non-surgery. However, if you were ALREADY being paid the same, then the amount of extra and unpredictable time that it takes to do a vaginal delivery would be hard to justify.
That is why it is important to understand someone's current mindset and to propose changes based on how things are operating today, and not how they operated years ago. You cannot understand a person, unless you've walked a mile in their shoes (or moccasins, or sneakers, or Birkenstocks).
Alan.
Alan@birthconference.org
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Missouri Natural Birth Center Announces Closing
The Columbia Community Birth Center has announced that it will close its doors at the end of the year. According to media reports, medical director, Elizabeth Allemann, M.D., is leaving the practice and the center is unable to find a replacement physician. Without a physician, the birth center is unable to accept insurance reimbursement.
Click here to read newspaper story.
Other media reports claim that the community and legal acceptance of homebirth , midwives also made it difficult for the birth center to continue.
Columbia Community Birth Center was opened three years and delivered 175 babies.
I do not have first hand information into the closing of the center other than what I have eread in the press, although I have had conversations with Dr. Allemann in the past.
A commentary on the closing of this Missouri birth center is actually quite difficult , because of the mutual distrust in Missouri, between midwives and physicians. Allow me to give a brief history from memory, and my apologies if I get it wrong.
In Missouri it was a felony to act as a midwife without a nursing license. Missouri did not recognize the CPM. A committee chairman in the Missouri legislature put wording into a bill that decriminalized midwifery. The wording was in such archaic language, that the word midwife was not used, (I believe even the terms labor and birth were not used) and no one objected until after the bill was passed. The governor refused to veto the bill after the midwifery clause became publicly known, not because the governor wanted to legalize midwifery, but rather he needed the rest of the bill and would not veto the entire bill. The physicians brought a court case to overturn the new law and were eventually rebuffed at the Missouri Supreme Court, due to "lack of standing."
If one were to look at this as an outsider, you would see everyone did what they needed to do. The homebirth advocates got very creative and found a legislative supporter to push the bill through. The physicians attempted to protect their turf by fighting against it (although they claimed that they were fighting on behalf of moms and babies, which is not their mandate and which the court called them on, when throwing out their case)
My question is: are you surprised that based on the above stated scenario that it would be difficult for the birth center to find physicians who want to work with it?
Yesterday, when discussing agendas,. I talked about battle plans. The problem in political and legal battles, is when the battle is over (although the war may continue) you may actually have to work with your enemy or your friend who is on the other side. It's why in sports it's bad form to run up the score.
When you win your battle, keep an open door to your opponent. You never know when you need them.
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Click here to read newspaper story.
Other media reports claim that the community and legal acceptance of homebirth , midwives also made it difficult for the birth center to continue.
Columbia Community Birth Center was opened three years and delivered 175 babies.
I do not have first hand information into the closing of the center other than what I have eread in the press, although I have had conversations with Dr. Allemann in the past.
A commentary on the closing of this Missouri birth center is actually quite difficult , because of the mutual distrust in Missouri, between midwives and physicians. Allow me to give a brief history from memory, and my apologies if I get it wrong.
In Missouri it was a felony to act as a midwife without a nursing license. Missouri did not recognize the CPM. A committee chairman in the Missouri legislature put wording into a bill that decriminalized midwifery. The wording was in such archaic language, that the word midwife was not used, (I believe even the terms labor and birth were not used) and no one objected until after the bill was passed. The governor refused to veto the bill after the midwifery clause became publicly known, not because the governor wanted to legalize midwifery, but rather he needed the rest of the bill and would not veto the entire bill. The physicians brought a court case to overturn the new law and were eventually rebuffed at the Missouri Supreme Court, due to "lack of standing."
If one were to look at this as an outsider, you would see everyone did what they needed to do. The homebirth advocates got very creative and found a legislative supporter to push the bill through. The physicians attempted to protect their turf by fighting against it (although they claimed that they were fighting on behalf of moms and babies, which is not their mandate and which the court called them on, when throwing out their case)
My question is: are you surprised that based on the above stated scenario that it would be difficult for the birth center to find physicians who want to work with it?
Yesterday, when discussing agendas,. I talked about battle plans. The problem in political and legal battles, is when the battle is over (although the war may continue) you may actually have to work with your enemy or your friend who is on the other side. It's why in sports it's bad form to run up the score.
When you win your battle, keep an open door to your opponent. You never know when you need them.
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
What's My Hidden Agenda?
In the months before the March 2009 Controversies in Childbirth Conference, I would get some interesting phone calls such as:
A midwife asking if this conference was a propaganda piece for ACOG, and if we will only hear about the poor underpaid obstetrician!
An obstetrician asking if this was one of those natural birth conferences telling us how great midwives are!
A hospital administrator asking if this conference is about preaching homebirth!
A homebirth advocate asking if this conference is to show that homebirth is dangerous!
Even after the conference, when every attendee went home to their communities and raved about learning different viewpoints, and having a fair and frank exchange of ideas, people still could not believe it was nuetral. There must have been an agenda!!
Do I pretend not to have any biases? OF COURSE NOT!! However, if you want a conference where everyone in front of the room will agree with you, you can probably find one every weekend somewhere in the US or North America. However, if you want to learn the issues that the other side faces, so you can become more effective at communicating with your patient/client or advocating for your cause, then the Controversies in Childbirth Conference will give you that..
A number of years ago, I had a conversation with midwifery icon: Ina May Gaskin, who I consider a friend. I said: " Ina May, you have been fighting this battle for 30 years, and by every indicator, be it cesarean section rate, infant mortality, or midwifery access, you are losing." To which she responded, "You're right, we are losing, but we don't know what else to do."
So here is my agenda: To get people that are involved in the birth care process to communicate with other people involved in the birth care process, even if, they vehemently disagree with each other's means and methods. It is my belief that only with, "abortion" (which we do not discuss) can middle ground NOT be found., because the subject is so deeply rooted in people's religious and moral convictions In the arena of birth. I believe it is proven over and over that middle ground is findable and is the preferred way of getting things accomplished.
There's a simple rule of battle that President Bush learned, and Pres. Obama is experiencing. When you are losing: retreat, surrender, or change your battle plan. You do not keep doing the same thing over and over and continue to lose.
How many of you have been fighting this battle for 30 years? Please tell me how many WINS, you can claim credit for. Have you reduced the cesarean section rate? Have you decreased the infant mortality rate? Have you decreased the maternal mortality rate? Have you decreased the number of babies admitted to NICU? Have you decreased the number of women choosing epidurals?
If you have answered “NO” to the questions above, then it's time for you to change your battle plan.
Last Friday, I proposed a different type of physician owned facility. This is now causing discussions in the physician world. This proposal is a game changer to physician’s because it is asking them to change their battle plan, since they also believe that they are losing. They're not happy with the hours they work, the conditions in the hospital, the lack of time they have for each patient and the lack of money they receive for their time as well as a training and expertise.
Changing your battle plan, sounds crazy doesn't it? On the other hand, what do you call repeating the same action over and over and expecting a different result?
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Tomorrow- Another birth center announces it’s closing!
A midwife asking if this conference was a propaganda piece for ACOG, and if we will only hear about the poor underpaid obstetrician!
An obstetrician asking if this was one of those natural birth conferences telling us how great midwives are!
A hospital administrator asking if this conference is about preaching homebirth!
A homebirth advocate asking if this conference is to show that homebirth is dangerous!
Even after the conference, when every attendee went home to their communities and raved about learning different viewpoints, and having a fair and frank exchange of ideas, people still could not believe it was nuetral. There must have been an agenda!!
Do I pretend not to have any biases? OF COURSE NOT!! However, if you want a conference where everyone in front of the room will agree with you, you can probably find one every weekend somewhere in the US or North America. However, if you want to learn the issues that the other side faces, so you can become more effective at communicating with your patient/client or advocating for your cause, then the Controversies in Childbirth Conference will give you that..
A number of years ago, I had a conversation with midwifery icon: Ina May Gaskin, who I consider a friend. I said: " Ina May, you have been fighting this battle for 30 years, and by every indicator, be it cesarean section rate, infant mortality, or midwifery access, you are losing." To which she responded, "You're right, we are losing, but we don't know what else to do."
So here is my agenda: To get people that are involved in the birth care process to communicate with other people involved in the birth care process, even if, they vehemently disagree with each other's means and methods. It is my belief that only with, "abortion" (which we do not discuss) can middle ground NOT be found., because the subject is so deeply rooted in people's religious and moral convictions In the arena of birth. I believe it is proven over and over that middle ground is findable and is the preferred way of getting things accomplished.
There's a simple rule of battle that President Bush learned, and Pres. Obama is experiencing. When you are losing: retreat, surrender, or change your battle plan. You do not keep doing the same thing over and over and continue to lose.
How many of you have been fighting this battle for 30 years? Please tell me how many WINS, you can claim credit for. Have you reduced the cesarean section rate? Have you decreased the infant mortality rate? Have you decreased the maternal mortality rate? Have you decreased the number of babies admitted to NICU? Have you decreased the number of women choosing epidurals?
If you have answered “NO” to the questions above, then it's time for you to change your battle plan.
Last Friday, I proposed a different type of physician owned facility. This is now causing discussions in the physician world. This proposal is a game changer to physician’s because it is asking them to change their battle plan, since they also believe that they are losing. They're not happy with the hours they work, the conditions in the hospital, the lack of time they have for each patient and the lack of money they receive for their time as well as a training and expertise.
Changing your battle plan, sounds crazy doesn't it? On the other hand, what do you call repeating the same action over and over and expecting a different result?
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
Tomorrow- Another birth center announces it’s closing!
Monday, November 2, 2009
1990 And Not a Clue How Much I Will Have To Pay
1990 is not a year, it is the number of pages in the House Health Reform Bill, proposed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week.
If you are so inclined, you may download your very own copy by clicking here.
I've written about this before, and I will say it again and again: "How much do I have to pay to buy a policy. under this bill?” I understand that the insurance companies can set their own rates, but since the current bill proposes a "Public Option" the government must surely be able to estimate how much it will cost the average American to buy into this government program and what it will cover.
I believe that the previous House committee bills were about 1100 pages, so in the new 900 pages, could someone take a minute to guesstimate costing coverage? At the end of the day isn't this the most important question. How much will I have to pay for it?
I know the media makes a big deal of the Congressional Budget Office guesstimating $one trillion and a few odd billion dollars, and that is scary to America as a whole. However $1,000,000,000,000 PLUS dollars notwithstanding, please tell me if insurance will cost me $200 month, $500, a month or $1,000 per month for ME!!! Is this asking too much??
I've read the initial reports of what is and is not in this bill. I will await the analysts to go through all 1990 pages and report back their opinions. I've already seen some troubling areas. One of the most troubling is the analysis that the public option may actually cost more than private insurance. I do not know if this is true, but if it is, you can look for the insurance companies to raise their rates..
A little political commentary, if I may: I wish the Republicans would stop telling us that the current system works. It does not! It is unaffordable for individuals and businesses and no one is happy with it. As the economy gets worse, look for employers to reduce coverage, increase deductibles and coinsurance, and increase the portion that the employee must pay.
Likewise, the Democrats must stop turning the insurance companies into the villains. The insurance companies combined profits are reported as 2.2% of revenue, which is not very high. Furthermore, if this was ONLY about insuring the uninsured and uninsurable, it would not need 2,000 pages. This si about fundementally changing who control's America's health care system.
I am also disappointed in President Obama, because as a candidate he promised transparency in these major issues, even promised the C-SPAN cameras would open the secret congressional negotiations to the public. The Pelosi and Reid, Health Reform Bills were negotiated behind closed doors, and the President encouraged this. It appears and the polls confirm that he has squandered his unprecedented support when he took office, and that Washington is back to business as usual, and it is not pretty.
The media is still not asking the question: How much will I have to pay? Why can the media tell you how much the average American will spend on Thanksgiving dinner? How much the average American will spend on Christmas presents? How much the average American will spend on vacation? But they can't tell us how much the average American will pay for health insurance under this 1990 page bill.
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
If you are so inclined, you may download your very own copy by clicking here.
I've written about this before, and I will say it again and again: "How much do I have to pay to buy a policy. under this bill?” I understand that the insurance companies can set their own rates, but since the current bill proposes a "Public Option" the government must surely be able to estimate how much it will cost the average American to buy into this government program and what it will cover.
I believe that the previous House committee bills were about 1100 pages, so in the new 900 pages, could someone take a minute to guesstimate costing coverage? At the end of the day isn't this the most important question. How much will I have to pay for it?
I know the media makes a big deal of the Congressional Budget Office guesstimating $one trillion and a few odd billion dollars, and that is scary to America as a whole. However $1,000,000,000,000 PLUS dollars notwithstanding, please tell me if insurance will cost me $200 month, $500, a month or $1,000 per month for ME!!! Is this asking too much??
I've read the initial reports of what is and is not in this bill. I will await the analysts to go through all 1990 pages and report back their opinions. I've already seen some troubling areas. One of the most troubling is the analysis that the public option may actually cost more than private insurance. I do not know if this is true, but if it is, you can look for the insurance companies to raise their rates..
A little political commentary, if I may: I wish the Republicans would stop telling us that the current system works. It does not! It is unaffordable for individuals and businesses and no one is happy with it. As the economy gets worse, look for employers to reduce coverage, increase deductibles and coinsurance, and increase the portion that the employee must pay.
Likewise, the Democrats must stop turning the insurance companies into the villains. The insurance companies combined profits are reported as 2.2% of revenue, which is not very high. Furthermore, if this was ONLY about insuring the uninsured and uninsurable, it would not need 2,000 pages. This si about fundementally changing who control's America's health care system.
I am also disappointed in President Obama, because as a candidate he promised transparency in these major issues, even promised the C-SPAN cameras would open the secret congressional negotiations to the public. The Pelosi and Reid, Health Reform Bills were negotiated behind closed doors, and the President encouraged this. It appears and the polls confirm that he has squandered his unprecedented support when he took office, and that Washington is back to business as usual, and it is not pretty.
The media is still not asking the question: How much will I have to pay? Why can the media tell you how much the average American will spend on Thanksgiving dinner? How much the average American will spend on Christmas presents? How much the average American will spend on vacation? But they can't tell us how much the average American will pay for health insurance under this 1990 page bill.
Alan
alan@birthconference.org
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