System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program
Abstract Background The Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks (RSON) project was developed in response to the persistent attrition of rural maternity services across Canada over the past two decades. While other research has demonstrated the adverse health and psychosocial consequences of losing local...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05898-7 |
| _version_ | 1797451142299385856 |
|---|---|
| author | Jude Kornelsen Stephanie Lin Kim Williams Tom Skinner Sean Ebert |
| author_facet | Jude Kornelsen Stephanie Lin Kim Williams Tom Skinner Sean Ebert |
| author_sort | Jude Kornelsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks (RSON) project was developed in response to the persistent attrition of rural maternity services across Canada over the past two decades. While other research has demonstrated the adverse health and psychosocial consequences of losing local maternity services, this paper explores the impact of a program designed to increase the sustainability of rural services themselves, through the funding of four “pillars”: increased scope and volume, clinical coaching, continuous quality improvement (CQI) and remote presence technology. Methods We conducted in-depth, qualitative research interviews with rural health care providers and administrators in eight rural communities across British Columbia to understand the impact of the RSON program on maternity services. Researchers used thematic analysis to generate common themes across the dataset and interpret findings. Findings Participants articulated six themes regarding the sustainability of maternity care as actualized through the RSON project: safety and quality through quality improvement opportunities, improved access to care through increased surgical volume and OR backup, optimized team function through innovative models of care, improved infrastructure, local innovation surrounding workforce shortages, and locally tailored funding models. Conclusion Rural maternity sites benefited from the funding offered through the RSON pillars, as demonstrated by larger volumes of local deliveries, nearly unanimous positive accounts of the interventions by health care providers, and evidence of staffing stability during the study time frame. As such, the interventions provided through the Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks project as well as study findings on the common themes of sustainable maternity care should be considered when planning core rural health services funding schemes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:50:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2e43f66eaf54538ab579a320240c1a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:50:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2e43f66eaf54538ab579a320240c1a32023-11-26T14:31:14ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932023-08-0123111310.1186/s12884-023-05898-7System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks programJude Kornelsen0Stephanie Lin1Kim Williams2Tom Skinner3Sean Ebert4Centre for Rural Health Research, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, 5950 University BoulevardFaculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, British ColumbiaRural Coordination Centre of British ColumbiaRural Coordination Centre of British ColumbiaRural Coordination Centre of British ColumbiaAbstract Background The Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks (RSON) project was developed in response to the persistent attrition of rural maternity services across Canada over the past two decades. While other research has demonstrated the adverse health and psychosocial consequences of losing local maternity services, this paper explores the impact of a program designed to increase the sustainability of rural services themselves, through the funding of four “pillars”: increased scope and volume, clinical coaching, continuous quality improvement (CQI) and remote presence technology. Methods We conducted in-depth, qualitative research interviews with rural health care providers and administrators in eight rural communities across British Columbia to understand the impact of the RSON program on maternity services. Researchers used thematic analysis to generate common themes across the dataset and interpret findings. Findings Participants articulated six themes regarding the sustainability of maternity care as actualized through the RSON project: safety and quality through quality improvement opportunities, improved access to care through increased surgical volume and OR backup, optimized team function through innovative models of care, improved infrastructure, local innovation surrounding workforce shortages, and locally tailored funding models. Conclusion Rural maternity sites benefited from the funding offered through the RSON pillars, as demonstrated by larger volumes of local deliveries, nearly unanimous positive accounts of the interventions by health care providers, and evidence of staffing stability during the study time frame. As such, the interventions provided through the Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks project as well as study findings on the common themes of sustainable maternity care should be considered when planning core rural health services funding schemes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05898-7Rural maternity careHealth service planningHealth services accessibilityRural healthQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Jude Kornelsen Stephanie Lin Kim Williams Tom Skinner Sean Ebert System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Rural maternity care Health service planning Health services accessibility Rural health Qualitative research |
| title | System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| title_full | System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| title_fullStr | System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| title_full_unstemmed | System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| title_short | System interventions to support rural access to maternity care: an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| title_sort | system interventions to support rural access to maternity care an analysis of the rural surgical obstetrical networks program |
| topic | Rural maternity care Health service planning Health services accessibility Rural health Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05898-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judekornelsen systeminterventionstosupportruralaccesstomaternitycareananalysisoftheruralsurgicalobstetricalnetworksprogram AT stephanielin systeminterventionstosupportruralaccesstomaternitycareananalysisoftheruralsurgicalobstetricalnetworksprogram AT kimwilliams systeminterventionstosupportruralaccesstomaternitycareananalysisoftheruralsurgicalobstetricalnetworksprogram AT tomskinner systeminterventionstosupportruralaccesstomaternitycareananalysisoftheruralsurgicalobstetricalnetworksprogram AT seanebert systeminterventionstosupportruralaccesstomaternitycareananalysisoftheruralsurgicalobstetricalnetworksprogram |