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Board of Direct Entry Midwifery

  • Midwifery Licensure Is Voluntary in Oregon
    Betty and baby
    A licensed direct entry midwife (LDM) supervises the conduct and labor of childbirth, advises the parent as to the progress of childbirth, and renders prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. Licensed direct entry midwives provide care in the home, in birthing centers, clinics, and as teachers at midwifery schools. Licensure is voluntary, and unlicensed midwives may practice in Oregon.

    The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) oversees regulation of direct entry midwifery and other health and related professions. To access OHLA's home page, go to Department at the top of the left navigation menu and click on Oregon Health Licensing Agency.
     
    Click here to learn more about midwifery licensure.
  • Important License Renewal Information for Licensed Direct Entry Midwives

    ​When preparing to renew a license in 2013, licensed direct entry midwives must be sure to provide the correct form, the Annual Summary Report, for the previous completed year for the MANA Statistics Project.

    Licensed direct entry midwives must also submit a Peer Review Summary Sheet, which has been updated to remove all reporting of non-absolute and absolute risk information.

    Click here for more information on license renewal requirements.
  • OHLA Highlights 2013 Proposed Legislation in Licensing Line

    ​The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) highlights
    proposed legislation by the agency and affecting the agency in the latest issue of Licensing Line, the agency's electronic news update.

    From continued streamlining and standardizing agency overarching statutes to profession-specific proposed changes, Licensing Line provides summaries of each agency-proposed bill as well as two bills not proposed by the agency that could affect agency operations.

    Click here to access the February Legislative edition of Licensing Line.

    Click here to access the April Legislative edition of Licensing Line.
  • Central Issues Highlights Latest News from Midwifery Board

    ​Central Issues covers issues of interest from the Board of Direct Entry Midwifery.  In the latest issue dated March 25, 2013, the publication  highlights legisative activity related to midwifery licensure, statistical reporting requirements, risk information, board member vacancies, and board statistics.

    Click here to access the latest Central Issues of the Board of Direct Entry Midwifery.
OHLA Resources Current Topics
Online License Renewal
Renew computer
It's secure, speedy and saves you a stamp! OHLA's online renewal feature is part of our ongoing efforts to provide customer service excellence and a streamlined regulatory environment.
Consumers Find Help at OHLA
Consumer Help
If you can't resolve a problem or issue with a practitioner of one of the health and related professions OHLA regulates, we can help.
Check a License Holder's Status
Midwife
Check our online database or to see if a professional is licensed or has been subject to disciplinary action (license suspension, probation or revocation).
News You Can Use
Central issues
Learn about openings on OHLA's volunteer citizen boards and access agency publications and OHLA's online news update, Licensing Line.
Search Statewide Licensing Database
Professions
Find information and requirements for all Oregon licenses, certifications, permits and registrations in a single source, including those not overseen by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency.
Get Informed! Get on the Contact List!
Professions
Licensees and other agency stakeholders can take advantage of the Oregon Health Licensing Agency's contact distribution lists. When you sign up, you stay informed of what's happening within your licensing board/council and the agency.
Click here for more information and to sign up.
OHLA Releases LDM Complaint Statistics
Based on Department of Justice advice, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) is providing the following information regarding complaints against licensed direct entry midwives (LDMs) (as of June 8, 2012):

  • Number of open investigations:  40
  • Number of midwives under investigation:  22
  • Percentage of the licensing base represented in those investigations:  28 percent
  • Complaints that have come from mandatory reporters:  9 from five complainants
  • Complaints that have come from clients:  13 from eight complainants
  • Complaints from family members of clients:  1
  • Complaints originating from hospitals or hospital-based health care professionals, whether they are mandatory reporters or not:  10
  • Complaints originating from inter-agency referral:  5
  • Complaints originated by OHLA:  2
  • Complaints against unlicensed midwives:  3
Spotlight on the Issues: Disciplinary Costs
Spotlight
Being the subject of a complaint and resulting investigation can be an anxiety-provoking experience. To address recent concerns about the costs associated with the disciplinary process, OHLA Director Randy Everitt clarifies the issue in a memo to Board of Direct Entry Midwifery licensees.
Click here to read memo to midwifery licensees
Licensees of Four OHLA Boards Must Report Prohibited Conduct
Report
As the result of the passage of House Bill 2059 in the 2009 session of the Oregon State Legislature, licensees of certain state licensing boards and four boards overseen by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) must report unprofessional or prohibited conduct of other licensees.
Catch the Latest Regulatory News in Licensing Line
Licensing Line
Access the latest issue of OHLA's e-mail news update, Licensing Line, featuring news of the agency and regulated professions. Licensing Line covers the diverse issues OHLA addresses in collaboration with multiple volunteer citizen boards. You can also sign up to be a Licensing Line subscriber.