The Collaborative is developing the framework for independent yet collaborative maternity care centers. We are currently utilizing a "think tank" of professionals throughout the US to evaluate the viability of three potential models:

1. Privately owned, out-of-hospital maternity care facilities with the ability to independently provide services for the entire spectrum of maternity care and labor needs, from intervention free to cesarean section births
2. Privately owned, out-of-hospital birth and maternity care centers located adjacent to hospitals but with facilitated working agreements between the organizations
3. Publicly funded, out-of-hospital birth and maternity care centers that are designated as FQHCs (either independently or as an add-on to existing FQHCs)

We believe this initiative and resulting facilities will benefit patients, practitioners and payors by improving care and reducing costs.

Once the framework is developed, and the initial center is successful, our goal is to share our lessons learned and help other communities replicate the concept.