Additional Services to Midwife Practice: Big Financial Impact

Additional Services to Midwife Practice

Have you ever thought it would be nice to serve families and not just add another birth to the monthly delivery list as the only option to bring in more revenue? There are so many wonderful services midwives can do, and many are quite profitable when looking at the time and initial costs for implementation.

I have talked with so many midwives who had to stop giving birth for medical reasons or family demands. Their first thought was that their income would really be hindered by not having the birth charges included in their care. Most midwives don’t realize how much more money comes in for time in proportion to primary care and gynecological services. Most of the midwives who transitioned into well-women clinics made more money doing these services than obstetrics. Unfortunately, our midwifery services are paid based on RVU (revenue value units) that insurance companies determine our time is “worth.”

 Labor support, being on call 24/7, and additional time spent during prenatal visits aren’t typically paid any extra compared to a traditional medical system approach of short prenatal visits and coming to catch the baby after the nurse has done labor support in the hospital setting. Gynecological and primary services are easy to add into practice to increase the revenue potential. Add a couple extra hours of office time each week to see women for paps, pelvic exams, STD screenings, birth control counseling, menopausal therapy, or breast exams.

Some midwives do newborn care, and some don’t.

 I strongly encourage midwives to provide care within the full scope of their practice. There are so many benefits to having the same philosophy of care for mother and baby in the first month of life. I have had so many times where a mother is given education on breastfeeding and the pediatrician gives the opposite advice. It creates anxiety, confusion, and a poorer quality of care for the family. There is an average of $500 in lost revenue purely from not servicing the baby as well as the mother.

Do you have a room that can be rented out a couple of days a week when you aren’t there seeing ladies? Start offering breastfeeding support with a great local lactation consultation (LC). Do a cross-referral system in your birth center and get a commission for services rendered with LC. This isn’t adding any extra time to your schedule, and women are getting a specialist who can help with those unique breastfeeding challenges within your practice’s umbrella of care. 

The same cross-referral system can be used with almost any business that serves pregnancy and newborns. You could connect with chiropractors, doula support, massage therapists, childbirth educators, physical therapists specializing in pelvic floor, and family practice providers wanting another satellite office to be part of.

Adding a store to your birth center is a plus

You could add a store to your birth center that sells local artwork, remedies, and supportive equipment for women and their families. Anything can be bought on the internet, but think of personalized items and things that women can’t just buy online. If time is of the essence (sore bottom, cracked nipples, and lower milk supply), families are going to want an easy way to access those herbs and tinctures to help with those challenges.

CNMs can expand their range of services to include various procedures such as first aid, circumcisions, ultrasounds, endometrial biopsies, colposcopies, IUD removal and insertions, Nexplanon removal and insertions, diaphragm fittings, pelvic floor therapy, urinary incontinence therapy, and menopausal therapy. These additional services can significantly enhance the profitability of their practices.

As midwives, we wear a lot of hats

Our clients come to us because we provide unrivaled attention in an industry that has historically left them feeling ignored. This is why one of the best ways we can grow our practice is by providing exceptional care across a wide range of specialties. By being able to offer a variety of services, we can provide our clients with the comprehensive care they deserve!

We designed our class, Birth Center Ancillary Service Opportunities, to make your practice more versatile.