The Midwifery Advisory Council reviewed work by the Community Birth Partnership Initiative (CBPI), coordinated by the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), to improve transfers and relationships between community midwives and hospitals in regional pilot sites.

Pilots and methods. Council members said pilot activities include virtual learning sessions, co‑design of shared transfer documents so the transferring and receiving teams have the same information, simulation exercises, patient‑experience surveys informing changes, and explicit engagement of EMS providers in policy and planning. Pilot regions named in the meeting were Greater Sacramento, Inland Empire, San Diego County and Mendocino County.

Reported outcomes and local testimony. Licensed midwives from Mendocino and Sacramento reported substantial operational improvements in transfer coordination and provider relations. Alex Rounds (Mendocino County) called the CBPI process “a delightful opportunity” and said communication with CBPI staff was “simple, smooth and supportive.” Leslie Nelson and other midwives reported the exercises changed how transfers happened in their regions and recommended other communities engage.

Why this matters. Improving transfer processes aims to preserve continuity when transfers occur, reduce delays and confusion at receiving hospitals, and strengthen local relationships that improve patient experience and outcomes. CBPI resources are public and free through CMQCC, and the council encouraged local providers and hospitals to engage.