Novant Credentialed Vendor Doula's

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When the COVID-19 pandemic started and many area hospitals restricted visitation, your doula OR birthing partner were allowed in the room to support you, not both. Now doulas are approved to attend births at Novant hospitals as long as they have gone through the vendor program, doulas are NO LONGER considered a visitor, they are essential care team members.

 

Simplified, this means that while you are still only allowed one visitor, we won't be included in that count. You can now officially have a doula and your birth partner present! Our support for you and your family has not changed. You get 100% of our attention, education, preparation and advocacy, same as before!

 

We are so excited to be welcomed bedside once again to support you on your journey.

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Facts about the Vendor Program:

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1. A as of July 21, 2020, doulas that have completed the vendor credentialing program are allowed to support their clients in person as an essential team member. They are not considered visitors and do not count in the one support person requirement for birthing parents. Clients do not need to choose between their partner and their Doula.

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2. Doulas are NOT employed by the hospital system and are not restricted or limited in the ways we can support clients. Our loyalty and duty is to the clients that have retained our services. Our ability to be a professional and capable doula has not been hampered. We still provide evidence based care and information while staying within the scope of our practice. The Client is our number one priority that has in no way changed.

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3. Doulas who go through the program have access to areas of the hospital that they did not have access to before. We are able to stay with our clients in triage, have access to nutrition room and can support our clients in recovery. Once visitor restrictions have lifted, doulas that have chosen to not be credentialed vendors are allowed back as visitors, but they will not have this new access

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4. As part of the verification process, doulas were asked to provide one of the following: proof of independent certification or doula training. Doulas without proof of certification can instead provide three letters of recommendation from nurses, midwives, or physicians. There were no limitations placed on what companies your certification had to be from.

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5. Doulas are asked to provide proof of vaccination or a letter officially declining vaccination for personal reasons. 

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6. Doulas are required to have a legitimate business substantiated by a tax ID.

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7.  Doulas were asked to run a federal background check and a sex offender registry background check. The results of these are not provided to any company, but proof of the having run it was provided.

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11. Doulas are required to provide evidence of a negative test result 10 panel drug screen.

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12. Doulas are required to take an online OSHA course on Blood Borne Pathogens and provide certificate of completion. 

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13. Doulas are required to read and accept hospital Tobacco policy.

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14. We are required to read and acknowledge the hospital system worker confidentiality agreement.

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If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please speak with your provider and they can give you further information on the matter.