Building on Strong Start: Alongside Midwifery Units expand access to birth center care

The Midwifery Center is a collaboration between the ambulatory (El Rio Health) and acute care (Tucson Medical Center) organizations to provide eligible mothers seen by the midwifery service in the FQHC and prepared for birth in the facility. Located within the hospital, the program provides the beneficial features of the birth center model as demonstrated by Strong Start. The program supports physiologic birth, enhanced maternal infant support and community based follow up. Two thirds of mothers are admitted and discharged on the same day of the birth. The model boasts a 95.5% vaginal birth rate.