About Us
The Perinatal Patient Advocacy Center certifies perinatal patient advocates (PPAs) to support families in navigating the healthcare system during birth, pregnancy, and/or the postpartum period, and especially during the birthing process. PPAs have experience as doulas, midwives, nurses, birth workers, or other perinatal professionals, and often serve in both roles concurrently.
We believe that every birthing family deserves an advocate who can help create:
- A cohesive care and support team that is aligned with the client’s personal values and needs
- Clear pathways of communication with medical providers that center the client’s right to meaningful information and autonomy
- A pregnancy, birth, and/or postpartum plan that represents the client’s values and respects the physical, cultural, and spiritual context of their decisions
- Prompt access to needed services and resources
PPAs commit to the highest standards of professional conduct as they represent their clients and/or advocate for improved standards of care within their communities.
Leadership
Alicia Fishbein, BCPA
Administrative Director
Meredith Nelson, MA, BCPA
Director of Certification
Faith Ramirez, RN, BSN, IM
Training Facilitator
Jessica Shinneman, RN
Training Facilitator
Emily Johnston, RN, IBCLC
Training Facilitator
PPAC Code of Ethics and Conduct
A Perinatal Patient Advocate:
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Works with the client to create a cohesive care and support team centered around the client’s needs, values, and choices.
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Provides information on the benefits, risks, and known alternatives of the client’s medical options.
- Does not make decisions on behalf of their clients.
- Does not make medical assessments or recommendations, even if they have a clinical credential.
- Recognizes the cultural and spiritual context in which a client is making decisions, and supports the client with respect and awareness of that context.
- Consults with clients on the best means to accomplish the client’s goals, collaborates with care providers to make a plan aligned with the client’s needs and values, and keeps the client informed on the status of matters relevant to the client’s care.
- May act or speak on behalf of the client when authorized by the client, based on the client’s stated values, goals, and informed decisions.
- Withdraws from representing a client if the advocate’s physical or mental condition might impair the advocate’s abilities to represent the client, and refers the client to another suitable advocate.
- Supports the autonomy of their clients, educating the client and care team as needed on the client’s legal rights.
- Informs a client when the advocate knows a request cannot be accommodated due to legal or other limitations.
- Provides a written service agreement disclosing scope, terms, fees, and potential conflicts of interest before commencing representation.
- Is responsive, diligent, and reliable in their dealings with or on behalf of their clients throughout the term of their service agreement.
- Keeps a detailed record of the client’s care as witnessed by the advocate.
- Maintains the confidentiality of client medical records and communications, and keeps them on file for 3 years after the client’s birth.
- Maintains a strong referral system to assist clients where the advocate is not qualified or available to provide support.
- Strives to stay up-to-date on standards for perinatal care, on physiologic birth, on perinatal resources, and on patient advocacy standards.
- Abides by all relevant laws and regulations.