The document proposes a new model for women's care that offers more options and a more personalized experience. It discusses shortcomings in the current system based on a survey, and key priorities for women like personal relationships, self-efficacy, and environmental comfort. The proposed model incorporates aspects of midwifery care and allows different room styles to accommodate various birth preferences.

1. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
W
omen’s
Ca
rePresently, there is a
huge shift in maternity
care in the US.
Women Want More Options, a New Model for Women’s Care by Heatherlee Nguyen

2. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011

3. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Women Want More Options
A New Model for Women’s Care
Proposed by: Heather Lee Nguyen

4. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
W
omen’s
Ca
re
More than four million
babies are born in the
US each year, and the
details of how, when,
and where they arrive
are always shifting.
-BabyCenter.com, 2009

5. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Maternity Care in the US
Many expectant parents switch providers mid-pregnancy... but WHY?

6. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Expectant Parents Survey
(300+ responded)
Page 02
“I was told what would
happen not asked”
“I felt like
just a number”“It was an
uncomfortable, cold
environment and
a long wait”
“No place formy kids to play”
“I didn’t feel
I was getting
educated
about my
body or birth”
“They brushed off
my desired birth plan”

7. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
SERVICE
SURROUNDINGS
SUPPORT
Page 03
What’s Important to Women?

8. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
ENVIRONMENTAL
COMFORT
SELF-EFFICACY
SUPPORT

9. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
*SERVICE*

10. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
“(The) provider knew me personally,
not just (as) another patient.
The relationship that developed
gave me confidence in their ability
to do their job well.”
http://www.birthcenters.org/birth-center-faq/what-people-say.php

11. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Two Separate Models of Care
Midwifery or
“Humanistic” Techno-medical
Pre-historic 1920s - present

12. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
According to this model, the emotions of a woman have a very
real impact on the well-being of the baby. The importance of
companionship and encouragement is emphasized.
“Only with trust, faith, and support can the woman allow the birth experience to
enlighten and empower her.” - Claudia Lowe
Midwife means “with woman”

13. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Self-Efficacy
*Self-efficacy is directly related to
health behavior.
Self-efficacy pertains to a sense of control over one’s
environment and behavior. According to Social Cognitive
Theory (SCT; Bandura, 1997), a personal sense of control
facilitates a change of health behavior.

14. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
DIY (Do It Yourself)
WEIGH STATIONS
URINE SAMPLES
BELLY MEASURE
GIVES WOMAN CONTROL OVER HER BODY
SAVES TIME
MORE PERSONAL ATTENTION

15. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Birth is not only about making babies. Birth
is about making mothers - strong, competent,
capable mothers who trust themselves and
know their inner strength.
- Barbara Katz Rothman

16. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
GIVE WOMEN/FAMILIES
MORE OPTIONS - INFORM
THEM AND THEN ALLOW
THEM TO CHOOSE
Paperwork is done digitally
Large wall of providers from
both models of care shown
visually on screen, each with
a sound bit about who they
are (education, personal
interests, practice interests,
hobbies, etc.)
Multiple headphone stations
Kids’ interactive play area
Educational sound bits looped
(digital/tactile library)
A
B
C
D
E

17. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
A
B
C
D
E

18. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
EDUCATE PATIENTS
AND ENABLE
HOME ACCESS

19. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT
*LABOR/DELIVERY ROOMS*

20. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Comfort plays a central role in our lives.
*
EACH WOMAN HAS THEIR OWN
DEFINITION OF COMFORT

21. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
The midwifery model of care is female-centered. Within it, birth is
something that women do - not something that happens to them. The
birthing woman is the central agent. The essential oneness of mind and
body and the power of women is recognized.
The techno-medical model of care is a product of the industrial
revolution. By the 1920’s the US and Canada had become the first
societies to do away with midwifery, only to find out some decades
later that women still wanted midwives and to learn about the
options available for them through their labor and birth.
Reworded from Ina May Gaskin (the nation’s leading midwife) Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

22. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
WHO ARE WE SERVING?
3 CORE PROFILES

23. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Home Birth enthusiasts
Laura and Paul have had two home water births. They feel birth is a natural process, not a medical emergency. They feel
most comfortable in a home-like setting. After moving to a different state they found out their insurance would not cover
home births and that they would have to deliver in a hospital setting. What would their room look like?
FAMILY A

24. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Birth Center enthusiasts
Gia and Christopher birthed their previous children in a free standing birth center. They enjoy a relaxing,
soothing environment and feel most comfortable with multiple options in which to give birth. Their
preferred midwife has since transferred to a hospital. What would their room look like?
FAMILY B

25. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Hospital Birth enthusiasts
Megan and Jameson prefer hospital settings. They feel they are more clean and capable of handling tough situations.
They want to be near surgeons because of two previous C-sections. What would their room look like?
FAMILY C

26. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Mothers have healthier
births when relaxed and
comfortable, therefore
it is best to offer different
styled L&D rooms.
FAMILY A: will get a
“homey” environment
FAMILY B: will get
a “spa-like” environment
FAMILY C: will get a
“sterile” hospital setting
ALL ROOMS:
balcony (view), birthing tub
birthing ball, ceiling rope,
couches, library, bassinet
COMMON AREAS:
kids area, family theater,
full kitchen, sunny garden
all with easy access
within a circular design.

27. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
SUPPORT CHANGE AND CHOICE
IN BIRTHING POSITION
“If we wish to obtain an idea of the natural
position we must look to the woman who is
governed by instinct, not by prudery; and
it is only among the savage races that we
shall find her at the present day. In this
purely animal function instinct will guide
the woman more correctly than the
varying customs of the times.”
-George Engelmann, Labor Among Primitive Peoples

28. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Pages 227-229 Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

29. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Moving Forward...
Your mission at Allina Hospitals and Clinics is to remain innovative
and continue being a leader in collaborative efforts of health care.
Now is the time to join in the conversation
about reinventing Women’s Care.

30. Team Mom (Heatherlee Nguyen) • Redesigning Women’s Care • Spring 2011
Let’s work together to pioneer this huge shift in women’s care.
THANK YOU!
heatherlee.design@gmail.com
612 - 715 - 6007