The importance of collaboration in maternity care in the U.S. is apparent with deficits in both care disparities and quality, despite disproportionate expenditures to improve care. Utilization of experienced, well-trained clinicians, such as obstetric and midwife hospitalists, offers a strategy to improve outcomes, reduce cost, and enhance patient…

Researching in heterogeneous communities can present challenges for the most experienced of researchers, especially in the context of ethnographic work, where the dynamism and unpredictability of a research setting can make it difficult to anticipate the languages spoken. Drawing on data from multilingual health consultations, I reflect on…

Contemporary design education seeks to prepare students for the workplace through studiobased learning that replicates real world practice. Design problems in the workplace have become increasingly complex and one example of this is within the area of design for healthcare, which requires multidisciplinary collaboration between various…

In this study we analyze whether immigrant mothers in Norway can influence their mode of delivery. Patient preferences were measured as the rate of Caesarean section from their home country, and by a survey question measuring the extent to which people believe they have freedom of choice and control over their lives in their home country.…

With Boston serving as a hub of both educational and medical excellence, it's no wonder that New England has a high reputation to uphold in both of these areas. However, Boston and the rest of the region lack a specific degree program that is putting New England below the radars of potential midwives. Certified nurse-midwifery is a popular field…

Introduction: Evaluations from the health care team can provide feedback useful in guiding residents' professional growth. We describe the significance of 360-degree evaluation of residents by the nursing staff. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1642 nurses' anonymous evaluations on 26 residents from 2004 to 2007 was performed. Nurses'…

Midwives in Ghana provide the majority of rural primary and maternal healthcare services, but have limited access to data for decision making and knowledge work. Few mobile health (mHealth) applications have been designed for midwives. The study purpose was to design and test an mHealth application (mClinic) that can improve data access and reduce…

Introduction: We describe an example of simulation-based interprofessional continuing education, the multidisciplinary obstetric simulated emergency scenarios (MOSES) course, which was designed to enhance nontechnical skills among obstetric teams and, hence, improve patient safety. Participants' perceptions of MOSES courses, their learning, and…

Context: Pregnant women in rural areas may give birth in either rural or urban hospitals. Differences in outcomes between rural and urban hospitals may influence patient decision making. Purpose: Trends in rural and urban obstetric deliveries and neonatal and maternal mortality in California were compared to inform policy development and patient…