A Collaborative Model of a Community Birth Center and a Tertiary Care Medical Center

Area of Science:

• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Healthcare systems research
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Freestanding birth centers offer an alternative to hospital births.
• Collaboration between birth centers and tertiary care medical centers can enhance maternal and neonatal care access.
• Evaluating such collaborative models is crucial for optimizing regional perinatal systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the development, implementation, and evaluation of a collaborative model between a freestanding birth center and a tertiary care medical center.
• To assess the safety and outcomes of this collaborative model.
• To determine the feasibility of this model for expanding maternity care options.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted.
• Data were collected from women utilizing a freestanding accredited birth center in collaboration with a tertiary care medical center.
• Key outcomes assessed included cesarean delivery rates, patient transfers, and adverse maternal and neonatal events.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,061 women planned delivery at the birth center; 18% were transferred for hospital birth.
• The overall cesarean delivery rate was 6% (95% CI 4-8%).
• Maternal transfers for postpartum hemorrhage were 1%, and neonatal intensive care admissions were 6%.

Conclusions:

• The collaborative model successfully provided a birth center experience with access to tertiary care.
• This model demonstrates a safe option for maternity care, potentially improving access within regional perinatal networks.
• The findings support the integration of birth centers with specialized medical centers to offer diverse birthing choices.