This article's headline is problematic.
"Can family doctors deliver rural America from its maternal health crisis?"
🤰 It puts pressure on a small group of health providers to solve a major crisis in the USA. Improving maternal health also relies on having policies, work cultures, and societal attitudes that aren't tone-deaf to the reality of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Doctors alone cannot make this change.
🤰 It shows that the media doesn't understand much about maternal health. Is it their fault? Some, because we should take ownership of our ignorance and get educated, especially when we have the resources.
Yet, this is the narrative I've noticed in the USA and other countries. The health system, health authorities, and many health providers want to take ownership of maternal health issues. Which is great!
But for some reason, they aren't open to working with other industries and professionals to solve the problem. I suspect it's tied to the business side. Because if they share the problem and collaborate, that could mean less money for the "owner" of the problem. Most of all, this scarcity mindset won't benefit mothers and families!
🤰 The article mostly covers #antenatal care and #childbirth + C-Sections. This is the general view of maternal health, not just in the USA.
This is a problem because #postpartum becomes ignored as part of maternal health. Heck, we don't even know enough about the postpartum period! The definition and time frame itself aren't reflective of the reality of postpartum.
This is where my mission lies. To update, reframe, and redefine the postpartum field. Because I don't want my girls to have the same issues as my generation and the women before us when they grow up. Especially if they decide to become mothers.
So, some ideas:
🤰 The USA should look to Australia and study how they approach #ruralhealthcare, particularly for #obstetrics. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) trains general practitioners (equivalent to family medicine in the USA) to deliver health services specifically for rural and remote areas. This includes managing difficult obstetrics situations.
I've worked alongside ACCRM doctors during my rural emergency term at Mount Isa as a junior doctor. They are superheroes in my eyes because I cannot do what they do. And I felt safe and supported whenever I was on shift because of them.
🤰 Health authorities need to start thinking outside of their medical system to solve health problems. Your doctors are meant to be specialists in what they do; in medicine, in surgeries, in diagnosing and treating maladies. And they're human. They need a break to prevent burnout. They shouldn't do everything!
Find out who else in the community can help achieve the #maternalhealth goals you want. Engage non-clinical providers and businesses. Find out what they do and how they fit into your health program.
Modern-day problems require modern-day approaches! So, get with the times!
