“Novant Health is a not-for-profit integrated system of 16 medical centers and more than 1,900 physicians in over 800 locations…more than 36,000 team members and physician partners care for patients and communities in North Carolina and South Carolina.”

Novant has initiated themselves as local leaders in supporting the proven benefits of doula care for their patients and families who experience birth. Therefore,

The Novant Verified Doula

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its worldwide efforts of physical separation between the virus and our global community - Novant created a Verified Doula program to promote safe and necessary connection of their birth continuum patients to their privately chosen, independently contracted, professional birth doulas. Verified Doulas work for their clients, they are not employees or team members of Novant Health, and retain primary commitment to their clients.

As the founder of this Black Maternal and Family Health company, I saw then and continue to see now, both relevance and benefit to becoming a verified doula with Novant, and maintaining my professional compliance from year to year. It is important to me that I am able to accompany my clients (and potential clients) in every birthing related space in Novant’s medical facilities, and in the in-betweens of work and service in those environments. I have been able to give thorough care to clients admitted to these hospitals and get to know physicians, clinicians, and various providers of care, the ins and outs of these physical spaces, provide good example of the positive effects of doula service in hospitals on behalf of our greater professional birthwork community, and affect good care that ultimately touches tens of thousands of women and families, and our collective society, each year.

The Novant Verified Doula completes an extensive credentialing process which includes:

• Comprehensive Background Check

• Drug Screening

• Proof of Immunizations

• Proof of Vaccinations or Verified Exemption

• Organizational Verification with EIN filing and compliance

• Proof of Independent Certification or Doula Training or three letters of recommendation from Physicians, Midwives or Nurses

• Mandatory educational literature and quizzes concerning patient privacy, safety, corporate policies and blood-borne pathogens

• Operating Room Orientation for providing Doula Support in the OR

• Satisfying fees for submission, compliance, and hard-badge requirements

  The Novant Verified Doula maintains privileges when monthly and annual compliance requirements are satisfied, including:

• “increased access to facilities and providing one-on-one services to you: in addition to the obstetrics triage/emergency room, labor lounge, labor and delivery room, and mother/baby unit, a verified doula can access:

  • Operating rooms

  • Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)

  • Nourishment Room

  • Women’s care team lounges (if applicable)

• Labor support equipment

• Professional development and education resources

• Team member vaccination clinics and biweekly newsletter

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) support (e.g., N95 mask fit testing)

• Café discount”