More on CNMs/CMs

Today's CNM/CM is a skilled healthcare professional who provides primary healthcare to women. This includes evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral to a specialist, if required. CNMs and CMs emphasize health promotion, education, and disease prevention. CNMs and CMs provide preconception counseling, care during pregnancy and childbirth, normal gynecological services, and care of the peri- and post-menopausal woman. With health education as a primary focus, CNMs and CMs help prevent problems and assist women in developing and maintaining good health habits.

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) must graduate from an accredited education program and pass a rigorous certification exam. Because of the high standards established for education and certification, CNMs are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They are experts, held to the rigorous standards of practice set by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and by state licensing organizations. They attend continuing education programs offered by hospitals, universities, and ACNM. Certified midwives (CMs) must meet the same rigorous standards of practice as CNMs, but because this is a relatively new option for preparation, the title CM does not yet appear in many publications.

Certified Nurse-Midwives Provide Quality Care

According to a 1998 study of birth certificate data comparing outcomes for physicians and nurse-midwives in 1991*;

the risk of neonatal mortality was 33 percent lower for births attended by CNMs;
the risk of delivering a low birth weight infant was 31 percent lower for CNM attended births;
the mean birth weight was 37 grams heavier for CNM attended births;
the infant mortality rate was 19 percent lower for CNM attended births.

Certified Nurse-Midwives Are Cost-Effective

A study at two Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in California showed a 13 percent or $292,000 reduction in payroll costs at one center and a 7 percent or $2 million reduction at another center when CNMs were added to the obstetric team.

If only 100,000 births were attended in birth centers, not only would access to care improve, but annual savings would total almost $314 million. **

*Source: MacDorman MF, Singh GK. Midwifery care, social and medical risk factors, and birth outcomes in the USA. J. Epidemiol Community Health, 1998: 52:310-317.
**Source: Health Insurance Association of America and National Association of Childbearing Centers Annual Survey, 1995.





		More on CNMs/CMs Today's CNM/CM is a skilled healthcare professional who provides primary healthcare to women. This includes evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral to a specialist, if required. CNMs and CMs emphasize health promotion, education, and disease prevention. CNMs and CMs provide preconception counseling, care during pregnancy and childbirth, normal gynecological services, and care of the peri- and post-menopausal woman. With health education as a primary focus, CNMs and CMs help prevent problems and assist women in developing and maintaining good health habits. Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) must graduate from an accredited education program and pass a rigorous certification exam. Because of the high standards established for education and certification, CNMs are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They are experts, held to the rigorous standards of practice set by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and by state licensing organizations. They attend continuing education programs offered by hospitals, universities, and ACNM. Certified midwives (CMs) must meet the same rigorous standards of practice as CNMs, but because this is a relatively new option for preparation, the title CM does not yet appear in many publications. Certified Nurse-Midwives Provide Quality Care According to a 1998 study of birth certificate data comparing outcomes for physicians and nurse-midwives in 1991; the risk of neonatal mortality was 33 percent lower for births attended by CNMs; the risk of delivering a low birth weight infant was 31 percent lower for CNM attended births; the mean birth weight was 37 grams heavier for CNM attended births; the infant mortality rate was 19 percent lower for CNM attended births. Certified Nurse-Midwives Are Cost-Effective* A study at two Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in California showed a 13 percent or $292,000 reduction in payroll costs at one center and a 7 percent or $2 million reduction at another center when CNMs were added to the obstetric team. If only 100,000 births were attended in birth centers, not only would access to care improve, but annual savings would total almost $314 million. ** Source: MacDorman MF, Singh GK. Midwifery care, social and medical risk factors, and birth outcomes in the USA. J. Epidemiol Community Health, 1998: 52:310-317. *Source: Health Insurance Association of America and National Association of Childbearing Centers Annual Survey, 1995.

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