Midwifery in Canada - Ontario

Report submitted September 2007 by the Association of Ontario Midwives

Midwifery expansion
In August 2007, as a result of an intensive year of lobbying by the Midwifery Education Programme (MEP), Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) and other stakeholders, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities announced an expansion of the Ontario Midwifery Education Program (MEP). Effective September 2007, 20 additional students will be admitted to the MEP (for a total of 80 students), with an additional 10 seats to be added in 2008. In addition, with this year’s new graduates joining the pool of practicing midwives, the AOM has now exceeded 400 registered midwives in the province.

CURRENT STRATEGIES

Election Strategy
The October Ontario provincial election is an opportunity for midwives and supporters of midwifery to bring political attention to the issues of maternal and newborn care, including the pending shortage of primary maternity care providers. All AOM members were sent an election 2007 kit that included: postcards for clients and community members to indicate their support for midwifery; flyers intended to inform politicians about midwifery and maternity care issues; a supporter “election tool kit” to assist supporters of midwifery get involved in the election; and suggestions for how midwives can develop constructive, ongoing dialogue with their local MPPs after the election. Supporter election kits were also sent to midwifery consumer groups.

LHINs Strategy
Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), part of a re-organization to a greater regional role in health care in Ontario, were recently given control of health care spending for their local hospitals. This has great potential to impact women`s health care, including maternity care in hospitals. LIHNS do not flow funds to community-based practitioners, such as midwives and physicians. All Ontario practice groups have been provided information regarding their respective LHINs by AOM, and provided with support from the AOM to engage with their own LHIN. The AOM has created Midwifery-LHIN list-serves and designated a LHIN “point person” from each practice. Point midwives and list-serves have been used to disseminate information as well as ensure that practices are not duplicating efforts. In order to ensure that midwives and consumers are represented in LHIN activity and decision-making, the AOM is supporting and encouraging midwives to meet with their local LHINs and participate on various committees, including the Health Professionals Advisory Committee.

PROJECTS

Negotiations preparation
In 2004-05, as part of the previous compensation review, the Ministry of Health committed to a next compensation review in three years time. AOM anticipates that negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care regarding the Ontario midwifery funding agreement will begin in early 2008. Preparations for these negotiations are underway including a comprehensive workload analysis survey.

Hospital Privileges
All midwives maintain privileges in at least one hospital, and work collaboratively with other health care practitioners. The issue of obtaining hospital privileges remains significant in Ontario. The Association of Ontario Midwives, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ontario Hospital Association continue to work collaboratively on this complex issue.

HIV/Sexual Health and Midwifery Project
The AOM, the Ontario Midwifery Program, and Ontario AIDS Bureau have collaborated to address the need for HIV capacity building among Ontario midwives. Capacity building includes the development of best practices within the midwifery model for sexual health counseling and prenatal HIV testing, as well as facilitating and promoting information exchange and networking between the midwifery sector and other health care professions/sectors. A professional development module for midwives should be ready for distribution this fall by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

AOM Committee, Task Forces And Working Groups
The AOM has added considerably more committees to its roster in 2007 in an effort to increase member engagement and input in AOM activities. The new Policy Committee provides guidance and support on the AOM’s policy work, in accordance with the strategic plan. It consults and supports the development of campaigns and materials to inform and engage government, midwives, consumers and stakeholders. The Workload Analysis Steering Committee was formed to guide our workload analysis project. A Negotiations Committee has been set to assist with preparations for funding agreement negotiations with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). Three new working groups to address rural issues, remote issues, and hospital privileges have been developed to provide strong member input into these key issues. The Insurance and Risk Management Committee and the ESW Working Group continue to support AOM activities in these important areas.

ONTARIO MIDWIFERY LINKS

Professional Association:
Association of Ontario Midwives: www.aom.on.ca

Regulatory Body:
College of Midwives of Ontario: www.cmo.on.ca

Midwifery Education Program
Ryerson University: www.ryerson.ca/programs/midwifery.html
McMaster University: www-fhs.mcmaster.ca/midwifery/
Laurentien University: midwifery.laurentian.ca/

International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program:
www.ryerson.ca/ce/midwife

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care: www.health.gov.on.ca/index.html

Contact Information:
789 Don Mills Road, Suite 608
Toronto, ON
M5C 1T5
Phone: 416-425-9974
Toll Free in Ontario: 1-866-418-3773
Fax: 416-425-6905
Website: www.aom.on.ca
Email: admin@aom.on.ca