THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Regents Permission to Operate in New York State:  Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University
DATE:	October 11, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate in New York State for the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

Required by State statute

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Board of Regents at its October 2006 meeting for final action.

 

Procedural History

 

Regents permission to operate in New York State is required by Section 224 of the Education Law which prohibits out-of-state colleges and universities from transacting business in New York without Regents permission.

 

Background Information

 

The Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University is seeking renewal of Regents permission to operate in New York State in order to place its students in health care agencies for supervised clinical experiences in midwifery.  Article 140 of Education Law restricts the practice of midwifery to licensed persons or students enrolled in educational programs that the State Education Department has registered.  The Institute’s midwifery program is accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.  The program meets the standards for registration as set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate effective October 24, 2006, authorizing the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University to use clinical agencies in New York for clinical education of students in its Advanced Certificate program in nurse-midwifery.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

This approval will be effective until November 30, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF RECOMMENDATION

 

            Section 6951 of the Education Law defines midwifery as “the management of normal pregnancies, childbirth and postpartum care as well as primary preventive reproductive health care of essentially healthy women as specified in the written practice agreement and shall include newborn evaluation, resuscitation, and referral of infants.”  Pursuant to a written agreement with an obstetrician, a midwife is authorized to “prescribe and administer drugs, immunizing agents, diagnostic tests and devices, and to order laboratory tests.”

 

            Established in 1996, the institution’s purpose was to provide midwifery education.  In 2005, the institution changed its name from the Institute of Midwifery, Women and Health to its current name, Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University.  The Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University is accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).

 

            The curriculum requires completion of 50 credits of didactic and clinical course work.  Content includes:  Interviewing and Counseling, Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Professional Issues, Health and Lifestyles, Healthcare of Women I and II, Pharmacologic Basis for Practice I and II, Embryology and Genetics, Antepartum Care, Intrapartum Care, Postpartum/Newborn Care, Perinatal Complications, Clinical Antepartum Care, Clinical Intrapartum Care, Clinical Postpartum Care, Clinical Newborn Care, and Clinical Health Care of Women.  The program, which uses a distance learning format, is divided into five stages.  Students are in residence during an orientation period and during stage 2 and 4 for a series of clinically related workshops.  The program may be completed in 21 months of full-time study and includes six months of supervised clinical experience.

 

            The program is intended for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees.  In addition it is recommended that applicants have at least one year of relevant experience in maternal, child, or women’s health nursing.  Applicants must have completed a physical assessment course within five years of beginning the program, submit standardized test scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and complete an in-person interview.

 

            The Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University plans on using one agency in New York State, the Full Circle of Women’s Health located in White Plains.  Only one to three students will be placed in a New York agency for 2006-2007.

 

            The program has one full-time faculty member and four part-time midwife tutors.  Additionally, the Institute draws on the faculty of Philadelphia University.  Faculty hold master’s or higher degrees and nurse-midwife ACNM certification.  Those teaching in New York facilities will also hold New York State certification as midwives.  All preceptors must hold ACNM certification.

 

            There are four nurse-midwifery programs (programs that restrict admission to registered nurses) and one direct-entry program at four New York universities.  Two of the four are independent:  Columbia University and New York University.  The other two are State University campuses:  The State University of New York at Stony Brook and the Health Science Center at Brooklyn.

 

            Like programs preparing practitioners in other professions, nurse-midwifery programs typically use a large number of health facilities for student clinical experiences.  They may be in several states.  Because of statutes like New York’s restricting practice by students to those enrolled in state approved programs, institutions must undergo a variety of state review processes to assure lawful practice by students.  In New York, this entails receiving the Regents permission to operate and Department registration of the program so that one student a year may practice in the State.

 

            Staff have determined that there would be no reduction in access to clinical experiences at cooperating facilities if authorization is granted.  Because of the limited nature of the institute’s authorization to operate in New York State, it should have no effect on New York institutions.

 

            The Office of the Professions has determined that the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University meets the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.