Planning and coordinating Maternal/Fetal and Neonatal services are major activities for Perinatal Services BC and its partners (health authorities, ministries, community services, etc.). The modules were developed by interprofessional working groups comprised of representative(s) from each of BC’s health authorities (various combinations of obstetricians, perinatologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, general practitioners, nurses, midwives, health directors/managers and planners), other experts from across BC, and a meeting facilitator.
The Maternal/Fetal and Neonatal Tiers of Services provide guides to the responsibilities and requirements to provide a safe, sustainable and appropriate level of service. Facilities must be capable of meeting, at a minimum, all criteria described for their relevant tier on a planned basis. This, in turn, will assist with the planning and development of services appropriate to the needs of the relevant catchment area (local, regional and/or provincial). After receiving input from across the province and refinement, the module has been accepted.
The provincial self-assessment using the modules is underway. PSBC and its regional partners are leading the use of the Tiers of Service approach to system planning for Maternal/Fetal and Neonatal services.
This is a recording from one of the six provincial webinars presented by Dr. Ellen Giesbrecht and Joanne Shum on February 7 and 10, 2020.
There is no date that has been set to implement the new Tiers of Service modules. We are assessing the current state through the self-assessment survey. Once this is complete, reports will be provided to the PSBC Steering Committee for planning purposes. This information will help shape the Maternity Services Strategy for the next fiscal year. All sites are expected to continue to operate and function at their current capacity.
No, please continue with your current service capabilities. We are currently assessing the current state and have not implemented the modules. The Maternal/Fetal and Neonatal Tiers of Services provide a guide to the responsibilities and requirements to provide a safe, sustainable and appropriate level of service. Facilities must be capable of meeting, at a minimum, all criteria described for their relevant tier on a planned basis. Facilities may have the clinical expertise, support services and equipment to provide some (but not all) planned activity(ies) described as being within the service scope of a higher tier. Undertaking such activities which are normally performed at higher tier sites should only be considered where the facility is able to undertake the activity(ies) consistently (not occasionally) and the enhanced role is consistent with the maternal/fetal and/or newborn service plan within the health authority.
The PSBC Steering Committee, along with its provincial partners, will review the self-assessment survey results. This information will help shape the Maternity Services Strategy for the next fiscal year.
