Rescindment of RM policies & forms and amendments to RM standards of practice

Nov 29, 2024

On Nov. 28, 2024, the BCCNM board on approved several changes for registered midwives including:

• Rescinding the Consent to Use Electronic Communications, Agreement on Planned Place of Birth, Policy statement on planned vaginal birth after caesarean section, Policy on Supportive Care, Position statement on fatigue management, Policy on infection prevention and control, an​​d the Guideline for pr​otection from blood and body fluid exposure.
  

• Amending the Standards of Practice to address fatigue management, communicating the most responsible provider to the client, and infection control.
  

• Revising expectations within the Standards of Practice regarding care team composition.

These changes take effect Dec. 30, 2024.

• Review the revised Standards of Practice
  

Why the cha​​nges?

Since amalgamation with the legacy College of Midwives of BC (CMBC), BCCNM policy consultants have undertaken a rigorous review of RM standards and related documents. This ongoing work involves extensive consultation with system partners and reviewing up-to-date evidence, and it aligns with BCCNM's regulatory philosophy of "right-touch" regulation.

This set of changes addresses concerns that some of these documents are quite old and contain clinical content that may not reflect current practice.

One key change addresses a requirement that the RM Standards of Practice required midwives to work in groups of four providers or less, and in cases where this was not possible, to apply for an Alternative Practice Arrangement (APA). To better align up-to-date evidence as well as feedback regarding current practice, standard 6.4 is amended to state that, within reason, “care is provided by a midwife or small group of health professionals who are known to the client." Corresponding changes have been made to the Policy on Alternative Prac​tice Arrangements​.

Que​stions?

Contact our team via the st​andards support form.