Promoting safety and role clarity among health professionals on Canada’s First Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU): A mixed-methods evaluation
Beth Murray-Davis, Lindsay N. Grenier, Cristina A. Mattisona, Anne Malott, Carol Cameron, Eileen K. Hutton, Elizabeth K Darling
In 2018, Canada's first Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU) opened. While located in a hospital, the AMU is a physically distinct space that is led by midwives, but with close communication with nurses and obstetricians on the traditional labour and delivery wing.
This study aimed to describe the experiences of health professionals providing care in Canada’s first AMU, examining its impact on clinical outcomes, satisfaction, and interprofessional collaboration.
Publication
This study has been published and can be accessed here
Participants
Quantitative Findings
Percent of all healthcare providers who responded STRONGLY AGREE or AGREE to the following:
100% OF MIDWIVES AGREED THAT...
Working at the AMU, they experience birth care that promotes physiological birth
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AND
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Working to their fullest scope feels empowering and fulfilling
Qualitative Findings
Four main themes indicated the AMU's positive impact on care.
"They've got an experienced hospitalist who is working with the community midwives, so there's an extra later of support and teaching that goes on amongst their own midwifery colleagues"
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Physician
“I think [the people giving birth] feel really comfortable there and i think a lot of them are comforted by the fact that if there is an emergency or we need to access other health care providers, it's also very easy for us to do that. we can have the best of both worlds"
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Midwife
“I think a lot of the success in the AMU has come from the amount of time and effort that has been spent at developing our team building skills, our inter-professional communication skills..."
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Midwife
Implications
Role Clarity and Professional Autonomy
​The AMU model enhanced role clarity among midwives and other healthcare professionals. This clear delineation of roles led to increased professional autonomy, allowing midwives to practice to their fullest scope and improve the quality of care provided.
Interprofessional Collaboration
The AMU fostered improved interprofessional relationships and collaboration. This was largely facilitated by the introduction of the hospitalist midwife role, which acted as a bridge between midwives and other healthcare providers, enhancing communication and trust.
Satisfaction Among Birthing Individuals
High levels of perceived satisfaction were reported by those receiving care in the AMU, underscoring the success of the model in meeting the needs and preferences of birthing individuals. The AMU model has potential to improve patient experiences and outcomes in maternity care.