Rural Health Program Doula

Rural Health Program Doula

Wellstar Health System

Wellstar recognizes the role of doulas for the improvement of health outcomes before, during and after pregnancy, and the reduction of racial/ethnic differences in rates of infant death and adverse perinatal outcomes. Wellstar seeks to increase the availability of doulas in areas most affected by infant and maternal mortality and to increase the number of women with a high risk of poor birth outcomes receiving doula services.

The Women’s Health Full Spectrum Doula provides physical comfort techniques, emotional reassurance, comfort and encouragement, breastfeeding support, and evidence-based informational support as part of the patient’s essential care team to expectant patients and their families during pregnancy, labor, and in the postpartum period, provided both virtually and in-person and based upon cultural preferences. The doula will provide services to women during the periods of pregnancy, birth, and at least three months postpartum.

The Women’s Health Full Spectrum Doula also provides direct patient education to expectant women and their families within the communities Wellstar serves. As such, they assume a variety of roles such as subject matter expert, teacher, patient coach, researcher, and consultant. The Women’s Health Full Spectrum Doula is responsible for directly leading educational courses offered at a wide variety of patient-centered times and locations including day, evening, and weekend options.

The Women’s Health Full Spectrum Doula reports to the Director of Women’s Health and is responsible for the learning and development needs for those they have been designated to support. As a member of the Women’s Health Service Line, it is expected that the individual upholds and supports Wellstar in achieving its mission and goals, fosters communication and collaborative practice between disciplines and serves as a positive role model to promote professional practice.

This work is done in partnership with system and facility resources to ensure alignment and sustainability. The scope of the responsibility for the position includes both system and community activities.

• Patient Support and Advocacy
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  Ascertains the patient’s knowledge about and goals for labor/delivery and provides individualized care based upon their needs. Proactively plans for pre- and postnatal care across the continuum through support and education. Provides physical comfort techniques such as touch, massage, assisted breathing. Offers emotional reassurance, comfort, encouragement and guidance with initiation of breastfeeding. Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural differences and diversity, understanding families’ special cultural needs.
  
  Provides evidence-based information about labor, procedures and encourages informed decision-making. Assists communication between patient and hospital staff, and advocates for families and infants within the workplace, community, and health system.
• Leader of Learning
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  Develops and delivers educational programming addressing identified learning needs for participants, utilizing in-person and online platforms. Instructs women and families at multiple Wellstar locations, including birthing hospitals and health parks. Designs, develops, implements, and evaluates learning activities and programs for the Women’s Health Service Line. Provides patient-centered care consistent with population characteristics and adapts delivery to cultural diversity. Conducts facility-based maternity tours to orient families to care options.
  
  Collaborates to ensure learning activities are equitable and inclusive for all registrants.
• Evidence-Based Practice and Research
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  Participates in data collection, poses relevant clinical questions, consults experts, and uses resources for practice questions. Utilizes evidence to guide development and provision of women’s education programs in content, methods, and evaluation. Applies current research findings for a solid evidence base, obtains continuing education, and maintains certification. Partners with subject matter experts to align initiatives with…