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Ravensburg midwives are fighting for better conditions in the mating system!
Ravensburg's midwives remain in the voucher system despite new regulations. The new outpatient clinic at the St. Elisabethen Clinic recently opened.
Ravensburg midwives are fighting for better conditions in the mating system!
Obstetrics in focus
A new midwifery outpatient clinic was recently opened at the St. Elisabethen Clinic in Ravensburg, which represents a further step in improving obstetric care. This innovation comes into a context characterized by reforms and challenges. The new midwifery assistance contract of the statutory health insurance companies, which came into force on November 1, 2023, has caused a stir as it also affects freelance midwives in Germany, including the staff midwives at the Ravensburger Klinikum.
The Ravensburg midwives have taken a clear position on the new regulations, which only allow them to bill for 80% of their services. From the second woman onwards, the remuneration drops to 30%, and from the fourth woman onwards billing is no longer possible. “There is something going on,” not only the midwives think, but also the managing director of the Oberschwabenklinik, Franz Huber, who emphasizes how important the wishes of the midwives are and that the care of expectant mothers must be ensured. The clinic's stated goal is to offer both freelance and employed midwives to meet different needs.
Protest and demands
In this context, the Ravensburg midwives have protested against the new regulations and are demanding improvements. There has been dissatisfaction with obstetric care for years, as parent associations and service providers have noted. Alliances are emerging at local, state and federal levels to advocate for fundamental improvements in obstetric care. These developments are in line with the national health goal of “health around birth”, which is set out in the federal government’s coalition agreement. The aim is to work on an evidence-based basis to provide women with the best possible support in their ability to give birth.
The comprehensive challenges in midwifery care are also reflected in the demand for qualitative information. According to the BARMER Institute for Health Systems Research, there is little transparency in the outpatient area of obstetric care, especially with regard to the services offered by gynecologists and midwives. Further insights are provided by Dr. med. Dagmar Hertle, who discusses how midwives can implement the National Health Goal in their practice in the “Hebammenwissen” podcast.
The importance of the new midwifery clinic
The newly opened midwifery clinic is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for advice, preventive care and birth planning. This not only creates an important contact point, but also responds to the increase in the number of births - an increase that is expected in particular due to the closure of the obstetric service at the Helios Klinikum Überlingen. Last year, the Ravensburg midwives attended around 1,380 births, including complex cases such as twins and premature births.
At a time when obstetric care is once again gaining greater public awareness, the Ravensburg midwives aim to maintain their place in the system and ensure high-quality care for expectant mothers and their families. They “reivindican” their place and importance in the healthcare system and thus show that committed professionals have a major influence on the quality of obstetric care.
The screen newspaper reports about the development at the St. Elisabethen Clinic, during WordReference the meaning of the term “reivindicar” is explained, and BIFG points out the challenges and potential for improvement in obstetric care.