Everyone who works with Mercy Health is united under one purpose: to help our patients be well in mind, body and spirit. This drive, along with our history of faith, is a powerful combination. It gives us a shared calling to work toward every day. Join our exceptional team and help us continue to provide the highest quality of health care possible to our communities.

Birth Doula - Mercy Health - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Medical Office

The Birth Doula is a community health worker who will work with pregnant and postpartum women and their families. The doula will promote healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, and parent-infant attachment. While establishing a trusting relationship with their birthing clients, they will provide prenatal, labor, and postpartum support. They will focus especially on birthing support by providing emotional and educational support during each home visit.

The Birth Doula is an integral member of the overall pregnancy. They will provide culturally sensitive support and serve as a role model for our birthing clients. The Doula is the link for birthing clients to the healthcare system and assist with resource needs in the community.

Essential Job Functions

• Initiate contact as early in pregnancy as possible.

• Establish trusted relationships.

• Visit pregnant and parenting clients in their homes and or other settings that the birthing person is comfortable in.

• Attend prenatal appointments with pregnant client as needed.

• Prepare birthing clients for labor and delivery experiences and for their new parenting role.

• Attend and support the mother and family through early labor by phone and active labor and delivery at birth location.

• Support the mother and family after delivery to assist with breastfeeding, bonding, etc.

• Collect required documentation from prenatal visits, labor/births and Postpartum visits.

• Visit the birthing client-baby pair within 24 hours of discharge.

• Maintain postpartum contact for 12 months to support breastfeeding, guide infant care, and provide continued emotional support (or 6 months if previously received services).

• Advocate and monitor birthing client-baby pair’s medical needs.

• Develop and stay connected with older and newly developed relationships with community partners including medical care providers.

• Maintain confidentiality of families served.

• Recognize limitations of the role and make appropriate referrals.

• Work cooperatively with other staff and serve as a resource to them.

• Participate in interdisciplinary and/or interagency meetings as required.

• As a mandated reporter, intervene immediately when the client is in an unsafe environment. Intervene in times of crisis and handles required reporting of incidents of child abuse/neglect.

• Ability to carry out delegated tasks and assignments from peers and supervisors.

This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Licensing/Certification

Doula Certification in State of Practice (required within 30 days of hire)

Education

High School Diploma/GED (required)

Work Experience

Experience as an NA, STNA, MA, or equivalent (preferred)

2 years of recent experience as a birth doula (preferred)

Training

Doulas of North America (DONA) certified training session (preferred)

Patient Population

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.​

Neonates (0-4 weeks)

Infant (1-12 months)

Pediatrics (1-12 years)

Adolescents (13-17 years)

Adults (18-64 years)

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids.*

May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials.*

May have periods of constant interruptions.

Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.

Required to meet on call requirements.

* Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands

Frequency 0% 1-33% 34-66% 67-100%

Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.) X

Lifting/ Carrying (50-100 lbs.) X

Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.) X

Push/ Pull (50-100 lbs.) X

Stoop, Kneel X

Crawling X

Climbing X

Balance X

Bending X

Work Position

Frequency 0% 1-33% 34-66% 67-100%

Sitting X

Walking X

Standing X

Additional Physical Requirements/Hazards

Physical Requirements

Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)

Perform shift work

Maneuver weight of patients

Hear alarms/telephone/audio recordings

Reach above shoulder

Repetitive arm/hand movements

Finger Dexterity

Acuity – far

Acuity – near

Hazards

Use of Latex products

Skills

Must be self-motivated

Good communicator

Teamwork and Collaboration

Ability to juggle many tasks

Comfort going into homes and other off-site locations

Many of our opportunities reward* your hard work with:

Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental and vision plans
Prescription drug coverage
Flexible spending accounts
Life insurance w/AD&D
Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible
Paid time off
Educational Assistance
And much more

*Benefits offerings vary according to employment status

All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you'd like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health – Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employers, please email recruitment@mercy.com. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at recruitment@mercy.com