(top posting in the name of conformity)....
Thought about ignoring this one, but then thought what the hey, Im a Leo
& just cant turn my back on a good stoush :)
thoughts on this.... (in order - yes this is how my mind works, welcome
to my world...)
a) Gak.
b) think you've misunderstood the issues that Lisa has raised (or I
have, coz thats not what I got out of it)
c) but hey, a great example of what can happen when you 'personalise' a
debate! (but we were warned, thanx for the heads up)
I too have reservations about what this insurance will mean for me/for
us/for the profession.
I want to have the 'security' of not putting my home on the line every
time I go out my door with my kit.
I want women to have the option of affordable birth wherever they choose.
I want my clients to be financially covered if something does go
pear-shaped.
I want to be able to trust that any insurance that I secure actually
does what it says it will without holding me over a barrel, & I mean
this in terms of financially, & regarding my scope of practice.
The problem with this offer is that it is the only offer on the table,
which makes it not only very attractive, but also means they have a
monopoly on insurance provision, they can spell out the conditions
because theres no competition.
Im not saying I dont like the offer - I dont yet know enough about it to
judge.
I too want more info on how it will affect my practice, and the
practices of other MIPPs - as Sue said, how will it affect us if we
provide care to women who are outside the 'guidelines' of referral etc?
How will it affect us if we are only providing postnatal (for eg) care
as an independant provider? What happens if we are doing both homebirths
and contracting out to agencies etc?
I dont want to sign up for something that will then change - we know
that here in SA the 'benchmark' charge for homebirths is significantly
lower than the eastern states - which means that CA will receive more
money per woman from midwives there than here - so how will they deal
with that? Will they eventually require a higher premium from those
providing 'cheaper' care?
And why would they charge us for a service that we could choose not to
use - the accounting system?
If this insurance is adopted by the majority, where does that leave me
if I choose not to join up, for whatever reason?
Im with Lisa - just because Im raising questions does not mean I do not
value the energy people have put into securing this offer; it does not
mean I wont have anything to do with it; & it shouldnt mean that my
professionalism or quality of practice are called into question.
I agree that this offer of insurance could be really wonderful, leading
to many new options of practice for midwives. Whatever happens with it,
whether its a go-er or not, it will be seen as significant to the
profession. I just want to be really clear about the 'rules' before I
support it!
We encourage women to ask their care providers questions about the
quality of service provided, about what they can expect from their
health providers - surely we have that right too, without being seen as
'boat-rockers', or any other kind of divisive branding?
cheers
(sig below where it should be)
B & G wrote:
Lisa,
There is a word that describes those who are not members of an
organisation/collective that declines to financially contribute to
collective funds or provide input or energies yet expect to benefit or
be rewarded by the wins such as pay rises negotiated by a collective
group such as by a union. I will not say the word in such polite
company but others will know a festering sore heals ever so slowly
when constantly rubbed. I get rubbed by this all the time!
However I would suggest Lisa /*you*/ seriously consider why membership
to */your/ *professional college would benefit you and especially to
the woman you claim to 'care' for. We cannot take a Robinson Crusoe
view and think midwives are on their own island when we have so many
financial, political, professional, ethical and various codes of
practice we are all expected to be accountable to.
At the present time the College does not have the resources or funds
to be able to provide legal or financial officers. They leave the
industrial framework many midwives work in to the various unions in
each state, however unfortunately named, the ANF. However some states
with active midwives are working on the name change to be more
inclusive of midwives. I can assure you the ANF and Jill Iliffe are
taking notice of midwives.
Collectively we are strong and we can do */anything /*in a way that
respects all views. Can I urge you to get involved.
Cheers Barb
--
Jennifairy Gillett RM
Midwife in Private Practice
Women’s Health Teaching Associate
ITShare volunteer – Santos Project Co-ordinator
ITShare SA Inc - http://itshare.org.au/
ITShare SA provides computer systems to individuals & groups, created
from donated hardware and opensource software
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
