On the same page: a novel interprofessional model of patient-centered perinatal consultation visits.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To plan and implement an interprofessional collaborative care clinic for women in midwifery care needing a consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. STUDY DESIGN: A community-engaged design was used to develop a new model of collaborative perinatal consultation, which was tested with 50 women. Participant perinatal outcomes and semistructured interviews with 15 women (analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis) and clinic providers were used to evaluate the model. RESULTS: Participant perinatal outcomes following a simultaneous consultation visit involving a nurse-midwife and maternal-fetal medicine specialist were similar to practice and hospital averages. Women's comments on their experience were positive and had the theme 'on the same page' with six subcategories clarity, communication, collaboration, planning, validation and 'above and beyond'. Providers also were pleased with the model. CONCLUSION: A simultaneous consultation involving the woman, a nurse-midwife and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist improved communication and satisfaction among women and providers.