Dear Tree of Life Doula Care,
Thank you for your letter to the Bozeman Health Medical Staff Officers, President and CEO John Hill, and the Bozeman Health Board of Directors. This letter serves as the official response from Bozeman Health.
After thorough review of your letter and with much discussion and research by myself as chief of the Medical Staff, and with the input and support of our Bozeman Health COVID-19 Incident Command medical technical specialists and Incident Commander, we have agreed to the following:
A formally trained healthy adult Doula who has been issued an official Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital Visitor Passport may be present for labor support in the labor room and during childbirth. The patient can request a Doula Visitor Passport during their regular clinic appointments.
The Doula must stay in the labor room with the laboring mother and will not be allowed to return if they leave the hospital.
The labor support Doula is not permitted in the operating room or on the postpartum unit.
The Doula will not be tested for COVID-19 but will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the entrance to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.
The Doula must comply with current Bozeman Health masking, screening, and hand hygiene policies.
If the laboring mother is positive for COVID-19 or has concerning symptoms for COVID-19 while they are hospitalized for childbirth, decisions about Doulas will be made on a case-by-case basis in alignment with the most current treatment guidelines.
We recognize the importance of this support as requested by our patients and these decisions were made in the best interest of our patients while doing everything possible to help keep our staff, patients, and community safe. Your commitment to your patients is appreciated and I thank you for bringing your requests forward. If you have any questions or need clarification on any aspect of the Doula support referenced above, please let me know.
With you in health,
Dr. David Crites
Chief of the Medical Staff
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital