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Title: Section 795.1 - Definitions

Effective Date

11/13/2019

Section 795.1 Definitions. As used in this Part:

(a) A midwifery birth center means a facility licensed pursuant to Article 28 of the Public Health Law that is engaged principally in providing prenatal and obstetric care, and where such services are provided principally by midwives. The facility shall be organized to provide prenatal, child birth and postpartum care and primary preventive reproductive health care to patients at low risk. Services are provided by a midwife, licensed pursuant to Article 140 of the Education Law, to patients at low risk, during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and who require only a stay of less than 24 hours after birth. Such services shall include newborn evaluation, resuscitation and referral. Midwifery birth center services are based on a philosophy that promotes a home-like setting and family-centered approach to care and views pregnancy and delivery as a normal physiological process requiring limited technological and pharmacological support. The center services are designed to meet the specific needs of the population being served and promote optimum pregnancy outcomes. The licensed midwife provides care for the low-risk patient during pregnancy and remains available to the patient during labor from the time of admission to the midwifery birth center through the immediate postpartum period, providing continuous physical and emotional support, evaluating progress, facilitating family interaction and assisting the patient in labor and delivery. Other health care providers can provide prenatal and postpartum care to midwifery birth center patients. They may also provide supportive care during labor and delivery, but the attending provider for birth must be a licensed midwife.

(b) A patient at low risk means a patient who has: a normal medical, surgical, and obstetrical history; a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy as determined by adequate prenatal care; and prospects for a normal, uncomplicated gestation and birth. Risk shall be determined using standardized criteria based on generally accepted standards of professional practice.

(c) The Department means the New York State Department of Health.

Statutory Authority

Public Health Law, Sections 2801 and 2803(11)

Volume

VOLUME E (Title 10)

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