I stand for expanding the scope of practice for Certified Professional Midwives/Licensed Midwives to include the administration of medications they are trained in. The Virginia Board of Medicine recognizes the North American Registry of Midwives standards of certification which includes requirements for training and education in the use of these interventions.
The World Health Organization states: “All midwives should be educated to high standards and enabled to practice to their full scope.” (emphasis added)
The WHO also states “It is now almost universally acknowledged that unless the traditional health practitioners (including traditional midwives) are properly recognized and articulated with the national health system, countries will never be able to achieve adequate health coverage for all their populations....The development of a policy favorable to traditional midwifery depends on the enlightened understanding of the nature of such care and the role and resources of its practitioners, many of whom possess a fund of wisdom, knowledge and experience that can only serve to improve the quality of care that countries provide for their populations.”
According the the March of Dimes 47% of counties in Virginia are without full access to maternity care. Arming midwives with the tools they need would quickly reduce this number. Midwives as individuals are typically more willing and able to establish themselves in rural communities quickly.
The Virginia Rural Health Plan states “pregnant women living in rural communities face unprecedented barriers to accessing adequate maternity care, often leading to disparate birth outcomes.” The VRHP also states “In order to begin to bridge the gaps between rural mothers, their babies, and adequate care, growing and retaining the maternity care workforce in rural communities should be made a top priority by health policy makers...” Midwives are essential pieces in quickly and efficiently reaching healthcare deserts.
Denying the value of midwives who are able to practice to the full extent of their training is denying mothers across Virginia completely safe birth. Many of these women are hour(s) from a hospital but minutes from a midwife.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the skill, knowledge and effectiveness at which midwives in Virginia have already been practicing despite the limited scope. The expansion of scope would only serve to make birth even safer in the state of Virginia. The benefit to families, hospitals, Emergency Medical Personnel and communities across the state would be astronomical.
I ask that these statements be considered in the decision to honor the training CPMs receive and expand the scope of practice.