ATLANTICARE

_____________________________________________ROLE DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Pool Certified Community Doula I
JOB CODE: 3205	EXEMPT: NON-EXEMPT: X	DATE:  9/2023	REVISED:

 

POSITION SUMMARY
The certified community doula is a trained and certified companion who provides physical, emotional and informational support to women and their families prenatally, during labor and delivery, and during the immediate postpartum period. The goal of the doula is to ensure that the pregnant patient feels safe, confident and empowered during their birth experience. The doula assists in explaining and discussing practices, policies and procedures. They help the mother to acquire the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about care and the care of the baby. Doulas also advocate for their client's wishes as expressed in their birthing plan, prenatal conversations and intrapartum discussion. They encourage the client to ask questions and express preferences and concerns. Doulas help enhance communication between the client and the care provider.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The doula will provide mothers and families with support throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period. They will work alongside providers and staff both in the office setting and home setting, as well as in the hospital L&D, M/B unit and NICU.

Doulas assist with childbirth education classes, support breastfeeding initiatives and are a support for inter-conception care. Additionally, doulas are trained in screening for postpartum depression, food insecurities, intimate partner violence and medical risk factors.

Doulas will also be trained on community resources and spend time with the maternal/child health social worker to help make referrals to services as needed. The doula would meet with the pregnant patients prenatally either in the office or at a location convenient to both; go over prenatal care, stages of labor and birth preferences; and help her to come up with a plan for communicating with her care provider. Multiple visits give the doula and the patient time to talk, process information, ask questions and start to develop a trusting relationship. Once the patient goes into labor and is admitted, she will decide when the right time is to contact the doula. The doula will arrive at the hospital and stay with the patient and family through the labor and birth experience.

The doula will provide physical, emotional and informational support, as well as help navigate the hospital environment and help to facilitate communication between the patient and the medical staff. A follow-up visit will be made with the patient and the doula within the first two weeks postpartum to help support breastfeeding, provide counseling on safe sleep and positive parenting, and initiate conversation on reproductive life planning.   

Any techniques used for support should be individualized to the mother's/family's needs. The doula focuses on "normal" labor, delivery, postpartum and newborn care, providing unbiased evidence-based information so the mother can make an informed decision on what is in the best interest of herself and her baby.

Doulas do not "prescribe" treatment and any suggestions or information provided within the role of the doula must include advising the mother to check with the primary care provider. The doula does not perform clinical or medical tasks, such as taking blood pressure, temperature, fetal heart tone checks, vaginal exams or postpartum clinical care. The doula will not diagnose or treat in any modality.

The doula is required to attend team meetings and training and is required to ensure timely and accurate completion of case notes and other paperwork required by the department.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of an approved birth doula certification training, as well as all the requirements set forth for certification.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) preferred.
• At least 1 year of practical experience.
• Certification through a childbirth education association, as well as lactation counselor education/certification, preferred.
• Must possess a current unrestricted driver's license issued by the State of New Jersey and any clearances required by AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
• EDUCATION:  High school diploma (or GED equivalent). Lactation counselor education required.
• LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: Valid New Jersey driver's license required. Doula certification required. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association preferred. Lactation counselor certification preferred.
• EXPERIENCE: Minimum 1 year of experience. Proficiency in clinical applications preferred at time of hire. Incumbents within position will be trained appropriately and then skill will be required for this position within 30-60 days from date of hire.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrates the ability to perform the department-specific competencies as listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

Exhibits the core behavioral competencies as listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients, as defined on the unit specific Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

May require standing, sitting, squatting, stooping, bending, walking, lifting, carrying, stair climbing, sitting at desk for periods of time, and long hours when patients are in labor.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Potential for exposure to the hazards and risk of the hospital or home environment, including exposure to infectious disease, hazardous substances and potential injury.

Position requires considerable walking and standing. Position requires frequent periods of driving a motor vehicle.

Essential functions of this position are listed on the department specific Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
This position reports to department and/or service line leadership.

The above statement reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position.