I've been meaning to write about this about this sooner, but I've been so busy helping take action and dealing with the blackout that I haven't found the time till now.
I'm obviously not a woman, but hear me out on this one as it's a matter that has hit quite close to home.
My wife works at Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center in Manhattan as a Nurse Practitioner. It was started 30 years ago and was the first in the US and is the only out of hosiptal birthcenter of its kind in Manhattan. (It shouldn't be the only one, but it is.)
They are being forced to close September 1st. Their current malpractice insurer refused to renew their policy with weeks left on their policy and the best quote any other would give would be a substantial increase (like 250-300% plus as I understand it), into the millions annually, for 1/6th the coverage they used to have. They simply cannot operate under those terms – they are a small not-for-profit organization with 30% of patients on medicaid that delivers about 400 children annually.
My obvious bias aside, this is rather sad and a great loss to the NYC area community. Historically, ESCbC has provided not just prenatal care, but care to women throughout their life span. The birth center’s philosophy is based on the principle that women have the right to health care that is safe, fits their life-style, and recognizes and respects their individual, physical, social, spiritual, psychological and economic needs. In addition to childbearing the center offers other services that include childbirth education, prenatal support groups, prenatal yoga, massage, acupuncture, post partum support groups, mothers groups, post partum depression support group, baby and toddler play groups, and a Spanish language toddler play group. It is also the home for Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York and Metropolitan Doula Group.
The loss of my wife's job is unfortunate, but a highly trivial matter in the grand scheme of things. We'll be fine. The loss of this resource to women's choice in healthcare is not – especially when it's at the hand of insurance companies and skyrocketing premiums. There are now dozens of women and their partners expecting to deliver children at the birthcenter scrambling. Less then 4 weeks is not enough time to find adequate alternative care for the women who have been counting on birthing at the center.
They aren't going out with a whimper and are organizing various forms of various forms of activism to bring this situation to light while trying to help patients make alternate arrangements. They want to keep these type of healthcare options available to women and their families.
I've helped them setup a weblog to communicate to their patients and the public. (BTW: Kristen Stehle is my wife.) Please link to it, pass the word along to anyone you know in the NYC area that may be interested and encourage them to sign the petition and get involved if they can.
My wife and I amongst many others would appreciate it.
<p>I've been meaning to write about this about this sooner, but I've been so busy helping take action and dealing with the blackout that I haven't found the time till now.</p>
<p>I'm obviously not a woman, but hear me out on this one as it's a matter that has hit quite close to home.</p>
<p>My wife works at <a href="http://www.birthcenter.org/">Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center</a> in Manhattan as a Nurse Practitioner. It was started 30 years ago and was the first in the US and is the only out of hosiptal birthcenter of its kind in Manhattan. (It shouldn't be the only one, but it is.) </p>
<p>They are being forced to close September 1st. Their current malpractice insurer refused to renew their policy with weeks left on their policy and the best quote any other would give would be a substantial increase (like 250-300% plus as I understand it), into the millions annually, for 1/6th the coverage they used to have. They simply cannot operate under those terms – they are a small not-for-profit organization with 30% of patients on medicaid that delivers about 400 children annually.</p>
<p>My obvious bias aside, this is rather sad and a great loss to the NYC area community. Historically, ESCbC has provided not just prenatal care, but care to women throughout their life span. The birth center’s philosophy is based on the principle that women have the right to health care that is safe, fits their life-style, and recognizes and respects their individual, physical, social, spiritual, psychological and economic needs. In addition to childbearing the center offers other services that include childbirth education, prenatal support groups, prenatal yoga, massage, acupuncture, post partum support groups, mothers groups, post partum depression support group, baby and toddler play groups, and a Spanish language toddler play group. It is also the home for Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York and Metropolitan Doula Group. </p>
<p>The loss of my wife's job is unfortunate, but a highly trivial matter in the grand scheme of things. We'll be fine. The loss of this resource to women's choice in healthcare is not – especially when it's at the hand of insurance companies and skyrocketing premiums. There are now dozens of women and their partners expecting to deliver children at the birthcenter scrambling. Less then 4 weeks is not enough time to find adequate alternative care for the women who have been counting on birthing at the center.</p>
<p>They aren't going out with a whimper and are organizing various forms of various forms of activism to bring this situation to light while trying to help patients make alternate arrangements. They want to keep these type of healthcare options available to women and their families.</p>
<p>I've helped them setup <a href="http://birthcenter.typepad.com/">a weblog to communicate to their patients and the public</a>. (BTW: Kristen Stehle is my wife.) Please link to it, pass the word along to anyone you know in the NYC area that may be interested and <a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/ESCbC/petition.html">encourage them to sign the petition</a> and get involved if they can. </p>
<p>My wife and I amongst many others would appreciate it.</p>
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