and consistently share information about the care a woman has been receiving throughout her pregnancy, while supporting a woman’s involvement in her maternity care. The template has been developed to ensure compatibility with the developing National Patient Controlled Electronic Health Record system, which commenced on 1 July 2012. Existing support mechanisms for women who are required to travel to access appropriate maternity care have been evaluated in many jurisdictions, with some jurisdictions investigating new or expanded support for these women. A key feature of the Plan is the development of a rigorous methodology to assist in the planning of woman-centred maternity services. The National Maternity Services Capability Framework The MSIJC have developed the National Maternity Services Capability Framework which will provide a rigorous methodology to support maternity service planning and risk management improvement in maternity care. The Framework will also assist women and their maternity care professionals to make informed decisions about the most appropriate place for the woman to give birth based on the complexity of her pregnancy. The Framework was developed in consultation with all jurisdictions, the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Australian College of Midwives and health planners. Planning tools for rural and remote communities are also being investigated. MSIJC is facilitating a project in conjunction with the University Centre for Rural Health North Coast exploring the opportunity to develop an Australian Rural Birthing Index. SUMMARY The MSIJC will continue to take responsibility to monitor the implementation of the Plan whilst facilitating the implementation of several of the Plan’s initiatives. Under the lead of the MSIJC, an Implementation Plan for the Middle Years has been developed (2012-13). As previously agreed, this implementation plan will be guided by the achievements and progress of the initial year of the Plan and will continue to reflect the importance of maternity care provision and its place within the broader health reform environment. The MSIJC will begin to formulate a plan for the later years (2014-15) as the middle years plan is implemented. In a significantly restrained fiscal health system, jurisdictions will need to be innovative and resourceful to ensure the Plan continues to guide strategic policy and program development for maternity services in Australia.
and consistently share information about the care a woman has been receiving throughout her pregnancy, while supporting a woman’s involvement in her maternity care. The template has been developed to ensure compatibility with the developing National Patient Controlled Electronic Health Record system, which commenced on 1 July 2012. Existing support mechanisms for women who are required to travel to access appropriate maternity care have been evaluated in many jurisdictions, with some jurisdictions investigating new or expanded support for these women. A key feature of the Plan is the development of a rigorous methodology to assist in the planning of woman-centred maternity services. The National Maternity Services Capability Framework The MSIJC have developed the National Maternity Services Capability Framework which will provide a rigorous methodology to support maternity service planning and risk management improvement in maternity care. The Framework will also assist women and their maternity care professionals to make informed decisions about the most appropriate place for the woman to give birth based on the complexity of her pregnancy. The Framework was developed in consultation with all jurisdictions, the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Australian College of Midwives and health planners. Planning tools for rural and remote communities are also being investigated. MSIJC is facilitating a project in conjunction with the University Centre for Rural Health North Coast exploring the opportunity to develop an Australian Rural Birthing Index. SUMMARY The MSIJC will continue to take responsibility to monitor the implementation of the Plan whilst facilitating the implementation of several of the Plan’s initiatives. Under the lead of the MSIJC, an Implementation Plan for the Middle Years has been developed (2012-13). As previously agreed, this implementation plan will be guided by the achievements and progress of the initial year of the Plan and will continue to reflect the importance of maternity care provision and its place within the broader health reform environment. The MSIJC will begin to formulate a plan for the later years (2014-15) as the middle years plan is implemented. In a significantly restrained fiscal health system, jurisdictions will need to be innovative and resourceful to ensure the Plan continues to guide strategic policy and program development for maternity services in Australia.
annual1112.docx