Hospital meets patient demand for 'home-style' childbirth

A university-affiliated hospital faced increasing patient demand to minimize or eliminate traditional medical and institutional involvement in labor and delivery. To develop appropriate responses to this demand, the hospital established a committee that included professional practitioners and consumers. Responses developed by the committee included a "home-style" labor and delivery room, more liberal visitation policies, and revised medical procedures. Through a series of compromises, the committee was able to meet patient demands while maintaining the benefits of medical and institutional care.