Within the last year, several of you shared data about your hospital based
practices, and I thank you.

Now, I am forwarding a question from our manager, who is in the "making a
case for this new position" stage of budget negotiations.  Our local bean
counter's initial response was "let's contract with hospital x for services
(never mind hospital x is over 1 hour away, and we don't share any service
area, etc.).

Darlene would like to talk with any managers who might have some data on
cost effectiveness of a hospital based position.  So if any of you have
something to offer, or think your manager would be open to talking with
Darlene, you can e-mail me privately at:  [log in to unmask], with contact
information and I will pass it on, , or call my manager directly....Darlene
Tuma, RNC, District One Hospital, Faribault MN, phone: 1-507-332-4745.  She
is not connected to the net yet, but that is in the plans for 1997.

Some basic data, we are a small community hospital, OB's, FP's and CNM's
attend, about 350-400 births/yr, around 50+ miles from closest level III, or
units with LC's. Initial planning is to start with a 1/2 time position,
doing inpatient and outpatient work, also developing links with providers
providing prenatal and pediatric care, and the PHN /WIC folks.

We are also spearheading a collaborative community effort to look at a type
of "universal care" concept, what we think each birthing family should have
access to, before and after birth, etc.  All inthe beginnings, but BF
support has come up in all our preliminary surveys/focus groups.

All and any input along the lines of cost effectiveness would be appreciated.

TIA
Andrea Christianson RNC
Nerstrand, MN