Building a midwifery business plan

In some areas, midwives may be required to set up a business plan in order to begin their
practice.

For First Nations on reserve, the Nation's administration may require this when considering
supporting a new primary health care service.

The following lists the main components of a business plan, and some things to consider when
starting a new practice. Depending on where the practice is located, these may or may not be
applicable.

1. Establishing the Program needs

1. Describe the physical space of the clinic and its accessibility and proximity to
different services. Detail the approximate size of the space needed to establish
clinic.

2. Provide a description of how many families will be clients of the midwifery

clinic. To find this information, refer to the toolkit section, What is your
community's birth rate?

3. Establish the need for the clinic, including a gap analysis of services, and a
strategic plan for services.

a. Test sub-item

2. Identification of the sectors of activities and spatial organization

1. Activities include: external consultations, clinics and classes, attending to birthing mothers and
their families.

2. The clinic may also provide consultation offices, waiting areas, space for children, bathroom
facilities and community rooms. for mothers and their families. Offices, clinical rooms, utility
rooms and storage space also may be required for clinical and administrative staff.

3. Description of access: including after office hours and phone/pager systems.

 3. Budget

a. Space and area: approximate size and cost of area needed.

b. Equipment: includes medical and non-medical equipment costs.

i. Medical: may include examining table, incubator, stretcher for incubator

heating lamp, emergency oxygen kit, and home birth case and all associated
equipment.

ii. Non-medical: may include non-medical furniture such as sofas, chairs, coffee
tables, bookshelves, and desks; education and learning equipment such as
books for clients and midwives, pregnancy charts and graphs, dvds and cds,
television, CPR training mannequin; informational and communication
equipment such as computer, phone system, server, phones,
photocopy/printer/fax machine, and pagers; linens and bathroom supplies;
and promotional materials.

c. Supplies

i. Medical: may include Doppler heads, disposable measuring tape, gel, non-
sterile and sterile gloves, and alcohol pads.

ii. Non-medical: may include office supplies such as pens, paper, tape, files,
patient files, portfolio, and lab requisition forms, etc…

iii. Lab: blood collection tubes and kit, butterfly needles, sterile pads, urine
sample containers, glucometer, etc…

iv. Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal: such as flashlight, scale for baby, oxygen
tank, magic bag, small mirrors, cord clamps, suturing scissors, peri-care
bottles, etc…

v. Pharmacy supplies

d. Administration: may include human resources, transportation costs and

professional insurance.