Protocol Assignment Forum: Organizational Culture, Behavior

Hi Heidi, I think doula support is an important service that needs to be expanded. One comment about patient satisfaction- You mentioned that you do not expect any barriers in this area because doulas are known to improve patient satisfaction. However, I think that its important to consider how you introduce the doula to the patient. If the patient does not know the doula, the laboring patient might not be receptive to having a new unfamiliar person come in to help them. On the labor ward at Parnassus I think that there is a doula program, but they are rarely called in. Some of the nurses guess that women do not want someone new during the labor process. You might consider introducing the service during antenatal time period to see so that the doula can develop a relationship over time.