Interview with Ebony Marcelle, DNP, CNM, FACNM – Director of Midwifery
We had the opportunity to sit down (well, virtually) with Ebony Marcelle to talk about her birth center and the exciting things that have been happening there.
Family Health & Birth Center (FHBC) opened in 2000 and has been CABC accredited since 2001. It was found ed by Ruth Lubic, CNM, EdD, FAAN, FACNM as a demonstration project in an area of Washington, DC that had some of the country’s worse perinatal outcomes. Their client population is mostly, but not completely, Black and covered by Medi caid. There is a high prevalence of co-morbidities and social issues.
From its beginning, FHBC has provided a wide range of services to address the complex needs of families in the community. One of the few birth centers owned by a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FHBC has intentionally created a model to improve Black perinatal outcomes. This comprehensive model includes:
- Cultural congruency between staff and clients
- Choice of birth center or hospital birth
- Midwives working collaboratively with physicians and many other disciplines.
- Care coordination
- Home visits
- Integrated primary care
- Dental, pharmacy, & laboratory services
- Emotional Wellness program
- Centering Pregnancy
- WIC site
What exciting things are happening at FHBC?
They recently moved into a new building located 1 1/2 miles from the previous location and on two major bus lines. This beautiful new facility provides more space and allows for expansion of the services they provide on-site, while remaining in the same community where they are loved and firmly established.
One wonderful feature of the new building is a professionally curated collection of artwork by local Black artists, including these amazing paper mâché pieces gracing the hallway.
Another exciting project is a grant funded pilot program providing a full year of follow-up after birth, including peer led groups and home and office visits.
In recognition of FHBC’s support for breastfeeding and education of providers, office staff, and families, they were awarded the Regional Breastfeeding Friendly Healthcare Provider Award by the DC Breast feeding Coalition.
What are you most proud of about FHBC?
Our team! They are close, passion ate, and excited about what we do. The midwifery staff, all Black midwives, consists of 4 full-time, 1 part time, and 2 per diem people.
Dr. Marcelle notes that she welcomes new graduate midwives and encourages other birth centers to consider hiring them. She has found that, with good mentorship and support, these new midwives become valued staff members. They often have fewer things to “unlearn” and have more time and energy to devote to special projects, for example CQI and public relations initiatives.
In addition to their active role as a student clinical site, she is planning to start a midwifery fellowship program to introduce more midwives to their model and to help with recruitment.
What inspires you?
This community! When I’m tired, the love and support raises me up.
What is Your Birth Center’s Biggest Challenge?
Recruitment of RN’s. It is very hard to compete with nursing salaries in the area.
There are few FQHC-owned Birth Centers. What are the challenges and benefits of this model for birth centers?
It can be hard to maintain the midwifery model unless there is strong support at all levels of the organization. There can be a constant education process.
The benefits outweigh the challenges, and include medical liability coverage and obtaining funding for special projects. It is important with our client population to be able to offer a wide range of services that can be available through an FQHC, such as primary care, care coordination, and dental care.
What exciting things have happened for FHBC in the past year?
Our number of birth center births has increased. We have received increased attention via articles and a compelling PBS documentary “Birthing Justice.”
https://www.pbs.org/video/ birthing-justice-pxaxav/