This release was issued under a previous government.
Tamar Quist with baby Peter and his mom
Tamar Quist joined the community in May to become the first midwife to work in Alberta Health Services North Zone. Her midwife services are being offered at a clinic based in High Level and through prenatal and postpartum outreach programs in La Crete.
“Midwives are an integral part of Alberta’s health care system – and the demand for their services is increasing. By expanding midwife services to women in the High Level area, we are giving mothers-to-be greater choice while ensuring access to the services they need, when and where they are needed.”
“Midwives play a crucial role and are an important part of our health care teams, working alongside our physicians and nursing staff. This is as true in High Level and La Crete as it is across the province. We are thrilled that Tamar is offering this service in two of our northernmost communities.”
Midwives are fully responsible for examinations, assessment of risk, screening and diagnostic tests, and collaborating with other health professionals when necessary. Registered midwives in Alberta have hospital privileges in Alberta Health Services facilities, allowing them to provide care to their patients in specific hospitals across the province.
“The continuity of care is what attracted me to midwifery – in essence, knowing who my client is, when they go into labour, what their preferences are, what got them to this point, and how I can best support them. I am a part of that journey, from when they come into midwifery care all the way to having the baby and then nursing and becoming parents. Being a midwife is such a rewarding profession, and I am thrilled to be able to support women in this community.”
“I’m happy to welcome Tamar Quist as the first midwife in our community. Her expertise will be a welcome addition to primary health care services in the area. We know that many mothers-to-be want access to midwife services and her work in the community will provide alternatives for expecting families.”
Alberta’s Midwifery Regulation was approved in 1994, with the first register created in 1998. In 2009, the Government of Alberta made midwifery a publicly funded service. In June 2013, a three-year, $37-million agreement was announced between Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Association of Midwives to provide midwifery services in the province. There are now more than 80 midwives registered through the College of Midwives of Alberta.
Midwifery in Alberta
- All midwives must maintain registration through the College of Midwives of Alberta and meet a number of requirements to do so, including safe births and regular courses.
- Midwives registered in Alberta can perform up to 40 births per year.
- In 2013, midwives delivered 1,948 babies in Alberta – nearly four per cent of live births.
- In 2009, there were 25 registered midwives; today, there are more than 80.
- Midwife-attended births can occur in hospitals, birth centres, or in a patient’s home.
- On average, 50 per cent of midwife-attended births in Alberta are at home or in birth centres.
Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.