Stamford Health and Oula Partner to Bring Midwifery Clinics to Connecticut

Stamford Health, a nonprofit independent health system in Connecticut, has announced a partnership with midwife provider Oula to introduce midwifery services in the state. This collaboration marks Stamford Health's first venture into midwifery and Oula's entry into the Connecticut market, with plans to open at least two new clinics operating under the name "Oula provided by Stamford Health."

Expansion Plans and Clinic Offerings

The first clinic is scheduled to open in Norwalk within the calendar year, followed by a second location within a year. These clinics will offer comprehensive gynecology and pregnancy care services, ranging from preconception to postpartum care. Additional features include:

• Care navigators
• Virtual support
• Expert resources
• Coverage by most major health plans

Patients, particularly those with lower-risk pregnancies, will have access to a team of midwives and OB-GYNs at the new clinics. Deliveries will take place at Stamford Hospital, with referral options available for those requiring higher-acuity care.

Addressing Market Demands and Improving Maternal Outcomes

Ben Wade, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stamford Health, emphasized the importance of this initiative: "Our goal is always to provide a high quality experience to our patients and to providers who practice here. And we knew that there was a gap, in that we weren't providing midwifery services."

The partnership comes at a time when there is a growing preference for midwifery-led care, with research indicating that women are willing to seek out these services. Wade noted that states integrating midwives into their healthcare delivery systems have seen improved maternal outcomes.

Collaboration and Implementation

While Oula will provide administrative and consulting support, all clinical services at the new Connecticut clinics will be delivered by Stamford-employed midwives and doctors. The partners will work together to design clinical protocols, determine patient eligibility, and coordinate handoffs between the new clinics and the hospital.

Adrianne Nickerson, Oula co-founder and CEO, highlighted the challenges of establishing a midwifery care service line and its integration into existing hospital operations. She stated, "We enable hospitals to do it faster, reach more patients, and deliver best-in-class outcomes."

Stamford Health is currently recruiting an OB-GYN with experience working with midwives to oversee the new clinics. This partnership aligns with Stamford's long-standing interest in collaborations that support the expansion of clinical programs and work with early-stage companies with proven models.