FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2020
Contact: ACNM Membership & Communications Team
240.485.1813 | [email protected]

ACNM Board Treasurer Cara Krulewitch Attends White House Briefing on COVID-19

On March 18, 2020, American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Board Treasurer Cara Krulewitch, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN, represented ACNM at a White House briefing with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and members of the Coronavirus Task Force. ACNM was invited along with representatives from other leading nursing organizations to discuss what is needed to protect and support the nation’s health care workforce on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Krulewitch provided an explanation of midwifery-led care by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs), which includes the provision of primary health care services for women throughout the lifespan, especially those in the at-risk group of women over 60. Primary care includes health promotion, disease prevention, management of health conditions, and individualized wellness education and counseling. She stressed ACNM’s concern that the COVID-19 pandemic will place untenable stress on the current women’s health care system and workforce, which was already struggling prior to the pandemic. With this in mind, she implored that emergency measures be put in place to temporarily lift the restrictive state licensure requirements that limit access to full-scope midwifery-led care in the 24 states where midwives are prevented from practicing to the top of their scope.

“We must respond to the strain on our nation’s health care workforce by allowing all health care providers to practice to the full scope of their training. CNMs and CMs stand ready and able to be a more integral part of our nation’s health care workforce, especially during such unprecedented times,” Dr. Krulewitch stated.

ACNM emphasizes the importance of collaboration during this challenging time, whereby authority is shared while providing quality care within each individual’s scope of practice.

Earlier this week, ACNM created a resource page to help keep members and consumers up to date on the latest COVID-19 developments. ACNM is also planning a town hall webinar series on related topics including challenges and solutions in providing care, student well-being, perspectives on home and birth center birth, and managing anxiety and stress. The first webinar, “Clinical practice challenges and solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” will be held tomorrow at 7:00 PM EST.

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About ACNM

With nearly 7,000 members, the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional organization that represents the 12,000+ certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. ACNM promotes excellence in midwifery education, clinical practice, and research. With roots dating to 1929, our members are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. ACNM provides research, administers and promotes continuing education programs, establishes education and clinical practice standards, and creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of Congress to increase the visibility and recognition of midwifery-led care.