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I learned something today that was surprising news. The World Health Organization reported in 2006 that the United States ranks 41st in maternity mortality and 29th in infant mortality among 141 developed countries! YOU can help change these dismal statistics, and change the face of maternity care in the process, through participation in The Birth Survey, a consumer-led effort to promote informed choice and transparency in maternity care.
Many of us have shared online reviews about products and services for years, but oddly, maternity health care has been left out of the loop. Consider that it is easier for consumers to get more information about a frying pan than has ever been available to the mother-as-consumer of maternity care.
This trend stops today.
For the first time, a user-friendly website exists to promote and support transparency in maternity care for consumers nationwide. The Birth Survey, available at thebirthsurvey.com, is a “consumer report” for maternity care. With free and easy access, women who have given birth in the last three years provide feedback about their birth experiences at one end, and parents-to-be will retrieve information about providers and facilities in their communities at the other end, all anonymously. The Survey tailors its questions to the unique birth experience of each mother, with answers from birth choices to emergency interventions leading to levels of detail absolutely unique in health care information.
The Birth Survey is a groundbreaking, consumer-led effort to share, track and retrieve the crucial information that leads to informed choice and optimal care, the hallmarks of quality maternity services. The Birth Survey will also be accessible to care providers and facilities, making comparative data public to all. The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) developed The Birth Survey as part of the Transparency in Maternity Care Project, and is looking for anyone who has given birth in the last three years to help revolutionize maternity care by taking this informative, comprehensive survey. The Survey has already had a successful test run in New York City, and was launched nationwide last August. To date, more than 13,000 surveys have been initiated. Your participation is vital for continued success of The Birth Survey. If you’ve given birth in the last three years, go now to The Birth Survey and share your valuable story. Next, tell your friends to get involved! Consider how incredibly valuable your input can be in the lives of other women and children, and act today.
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