What does PHM mean in HEALTHCARE

A Public Health Midwife provides prenatal care and delivery services to women at risk of having higher-risk pregnancies, works to prevent and manage complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery for mothers and newborns, as well as educate about maternal and child health issues.

Women with high-risk pregnancies who require extra attention before or during labor may be seen by a PHM. Additionally, any pregnant woman may benefit from the information on pregnancy care that they provide.

While all midwives work to ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries, PHMs are specially trained in addressing more complicated cases within the childbirth process. They provide additional safety measures such as risk assessment, monitoring fetal well-being during the birth process, performing neonatal resuscitation when needed, administering medications safely during pregnancy or labor if needed.

Most PHMs have advanced degrees such as a doctorate or master's degree in nursing; some states allow them to practice independently with national certification. All must be licensed by their state's board of nursing prior to being allowed to practice publicly as a midwife whether it be independently or through a healthcare organization.

Yes! In addition to general Public Health Midwives (PHMs), there are Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) who specialize in providing primary prenatal care services such as checkups during pregnancy along with performing deliveries themselves; Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) who rely on traditional methods while caring for low-risk women; Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who are highly skilled in working with both common/simple treatments like immunizations but can also perform higher risk procedures when necessary; Licensed Midwives (LMs) who focus on natural births without interventions; Birth Attendants (BAs) who offer more personalized support by attending homebirths but lack formal medical training; Laymidwifery which is the practice of nonmedical person assisting at birth either directly or through advice/guidance from afar.