Midwifery Care in New York City Hospitals: Strengths Assessment and Recommendations

This project will generate early evidence about the impact of midwifery integration in the nation’s largest public health system on maternal health care, outcomes, and equity and create a strategic plan for achieving even fuller integration. The research team will: 1) conduct interviews, focus groups, site visits, and surveys to provide an overview of the strengths and challenges of maternity care services throughout NYC Health + Hospitals’ facilities and to describe the potential impact of fuller midwifery integration; 2) explore adapting the Midwifery Integration Scoring System (MISS), which determines how midwifery integration at the state level can impact population-level outcomes, for health systems in New York and beyond; and 3) assess evidence-based practices of respectful birthing care and principles of midwifery care by piloting the Undisturbed Labor and Birth (U-LaB) Index at six sites in the city. The team will then create a strategic action plan for fully integrating midwifery care within NYC Health + Hospitals and disseminate lessons nationally. Throughout the project, a nine-person steering council will provide guidance and ensure accountability.