Business & Tech
CORRECTION: Midwifery Services Still Available At The Queen
Earlier story only involved midwifery services at Clinic Olé.
CORRECTION: Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
Expectant mothers who want to deliver their babies at Queen of the Valley Medical Center with the help of a midwife may still do so, in cooperation with the woman's physician.
An earlier version of this story that detailed transitions in the midwifery program only involves the midwifery program at Clinic Olé, and was in error in saying that it involved Queen of the Valley.
"Nothing has really changed here," said Vanessa DeGier, communications director for Queen of the Valley, on Friday. "We haven't closed the doors on midwives."
DeGier said the hospital doesn't hire midwives, but it allows midwives to come in as practitioners -- but only if the woman's physician agrees to it.
"Midwives have dependent (hospital) privileges," she said. "They must work with a physician."
DeGier said the hospital has no plans to change that arrangement or to transition out of allowing midwives to come in.
Napa Valley Patch regrets the error.
CLARIFICATION: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
No official confirmation on Queen of the Valley's involvement in phasing out midwifery services was given to Patch by Cynthia Gregory, executive director of Clinic Ole Foundation.
Gregory declined to speak to Patch on behalf of anything in regard to The Queen, and she did not offer any official confirmation on their role in the plans.
Queen of the Valley officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.
PREVIOUSLY: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
OB-Gyn patients at Napa's Clinic Olé Community Health Clinic and Queen of the Valley Medical Center who use the midwife services -- and who want to keep using them -- will be transferred to new providers by the middle of next year, officials said today.
"We're looking to transition out of providing the midwifery services," said Cynthia Gregory, executive director of the Clinic Olé Foundation. "It's very popular and people love it, but we cannot continue to support it on a financial basis."
Gregory said Clinic Ole officials and those from Queen of the Valley were involved in negotiations with other local providers of midwifery services to arrange for the transition.
She declined to say who the providers were, but said that there were positive indications that all the patients who want to continue with midwife services in Napa Valley will be able to do so.
"It's not just going to go away," Gregory said. "It's important that these patients continue to have access to these services.
"Midwifery will continue in the Napa Valley," she said.
Gregory confirmed that Queen of the Valley was involved in the issue, but she said she could not speak for them as to their situation or reason for making the move.
The Queen's spokeswoman was not available for comment on Tuesday, and a spokeswoman for St. Joseph's Healthcare, which manages the Napa Valley hospital, said she had no information on the issue.
According to Gregory, about 80 percent of our expectant moms at Clinic Olé use midwives.
"We deliver about 25 babies a month," Gregory said.
Because Clinic Olé has received designation as Napa Valley's only federally qualified community healthcare clinic, the transition process will be complex to make sure all government protocols are followed, Gregory said.
She said she expects that the transition would not be finalized before July 2014.
Expectant mothers who want to deliver their babies at Queen of the Valley Medical Center with the help of a midwife may still do so, in cooperation with the woman's physician.
An earlier version of this story that detailed transitions in the midwifery program only involves the midwifery program at Clinic Olé, and was in error in saying that it involved Queen of the Valley.
"Nothing has really changed here," said Vanessa DeGier, communications director for Queen of the Valley, on Friday. "We haven't closed the doors on midwives."
DeGier said the hospital doesn't hire midwives, but it allows midwives to come in as practitioners -- but only if the woman's physician agrees to it.
"Midwives have dependent (hospital) privileges," she said. "They must work with a physician."
DeGier said the hospital has no plans to change that arrangement or to transition out of allowing midwives to come in.
Napa Valley Patch regrets the error.
CLARIFICATION: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
No official confirmation on Queen of the Valley's involvement in phasing out midwifery services was given to Patch by Cynthia Gregory, executive director of Clinic Ole Foundation.
Gregory declined to speak to Patch on behalf of anything in regard to The Queen, and she did not offer any official confirmation on their role in the plans.
Queen of the Valley officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.
PREVIOUSLY: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
OB-Gyn patients at Napa's Clinic Olé Community Health Clinic and Queen of the Valley Medical Center who use the midwife services -- and who want to keep using them -- will be transferred to new providers by the middle of next year, officials said today.
"We're looking to transition out of providing the midwifery services," said Cynthia Gregory, executive director of the Clinic Olé Foundation. "It's very popular and people love it, but we cannot continue to support it on a financial basis."
Gregory said Clinic Ole officials and those from Queen of the Valley were involved in negotiations with other local providers of midwifery services to arrange for the transition.
She declined to say who the providers were, but said that there were positive indications that all the patients who want to continue with midwife services in Napa Valley will be able to do so.
"It's not just going to go away," Gregory said. "It's important that these patients continue to have access to these services.
"Midwifery will continue in the Napa Valley," she said.
Gregory confirmed that Queen of the Valley was involved in the issue, but she said she could not speak for them as to their situation or reason for making the move.
The Queen's spokeswoman was not available for comment on Tuesday, and a spokeswoman for St. Joseph's Healthcare, which manages the Napa Valley hospital, said she had no information on the issue.
According to Gregory, about 80 percent of our expectant moms at Clinic Olé use midwives.
"We deliver about 25 babies a month," Gregory said.
Because Clinic Olé has received designation as Napa Valley's only federally qualified community healthcare clinic, the transition process will be complex to make sure all government protocols are followed, Gregory said.
She said she expects that the transition would not be finalized before July 2014.
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