1. A. A licensed direct-entry midwife shall develop a general written plan for:

   1. (1) Emergency transfer of a patient, a newborn, or both;
   2. (2) Transport of a newborn to a newborn nursery or neonatal intensive care nursery; and
   3. (3) Transport of a patient to an appropriate hospital with a labor and delivery unit.
2. B. The Committee shall review and recommend approval to the Board of the plan required under §A of this regulation.
3. C. The plan required under §A of this regulation shall be provided to any hospital identified in the plan approved by the Committee.
4. D. In addition to the general written plan required under §A of this regulation, a licensed direct-entry midwife shall prepare a plan that is specific to each patient and share the plan with the patient.

5. E. The plan required under §D of this regulation shall:

   1. (1) Include procedures and processes to be undertaken in the event of an emergency for the mother, the newborn, or both;
   2. (2) Identify the hospital nearest to the address of the planned home birth that has a labor and delivery unit;
   3. (3) Include a care plan for the newborn; and
   4. (4) Identify the pediatric health care practitioner who will be notified after delivery in accordance with Regulation .02 of this chapter to receive the transfer of care of the newborn.
6. F. Each direct-entry midwife shall use the standard form approved by the Board for all cases in which a transfer occurs during prenatal care, labor, or postpartum.

7. G. After a decision to transport a patient has been made, the licensed direct-entry midwife shall:

   1. (1) Call the receiving health care provider;
   2. (2) Inform the health care provider of the incoming patient;
   3. (3) Accompany the patient to the hospital; and

   4. (4) On arrival at the hospital, provide to the staff of the hospital;

      1. (a) The standard form developed under §D of this regulation;
      2. (b) The complete medical records of the patient and newborn; and
      3. (c) A verbal summary of the care provided to the patient and newborn by the licensed direct-entry midwife.

Authority: Health-General Article, §§8-205 and Title 8, Subtitle 6C, Annotated Code of Maryland;
Ch. 383, Acts of 2015

Effective date: December 19, 2016 (43:25 Md. R. 1385)

Regulation .15B amended as an emergency provision effective July 11, 2023 (50:15 Md. R. 680); adopted permanently effective October 16, 2023 (50:20 Md. R. 887)