Interprofessional Collaboration in Perinatal Care: The Future of Midwifery

Healthcare delivered by teams is becoming more common, and an estimated 50% of obstetricians in the United States (US) work with or employ nurse practitioners or nurse-midwives. The number of midwife-attended births in the United States is also growing. Interprofessional collaboration between midwives and physicians can increase access to safe, quality maternity care for women in the United States. A review of the literature indicates that successful collaborative practice includes effective communication, trust, and respect between providers. A review of concepts and theoretical frameworks offers a foundation for scholarly inquiry, suggests a research agenda for future study, and provides suggestions for organizational leaders to translate current knowledge into the clinical setting. Midwifery, through increasing collaborative practices, has the potential to change care delivery in the years to come.