Doula

Required Qualifications

• Current doula training certificate from a recognized organization (e.g., DONA International, CAPPA, ProDoula, Bebo Mia, or equivalent), to be maintained throughout the term of the Agreement. Training may be in prenatal, birth, postpartum, or full-spectrum doula care.
• Demonstrated experience providing one or more of the following: prenatal education and support; labor and birth support; postpartum care and education; newborn and infant care; breastfeeding/chestfeeding support; and practicing with health equity and cultural humility.
• Technology proficiency, including the ability to use digital communication tools (e.g., email and secure messaging), electronic health record (EHR) systems, and/or other care management platforms for documentation and communication.

Scope of Services

Services shall include, but are not limited to, the following as assigned by the Company through the Mahmee Platform:
 
In-Person Birth Attendance
Provide continuous, comprehensive bedside doula support during labor and delivery. In-person birth attendance is a core responsibility under this Agreement. If Contractor is unable to attend an assigned birth for any reason, Contractor must notify the Company promptly and work closely with the Mahmee care team to facilitate appropriate backup support for the patient. Repeated failure to attend assigned births without arranging backup coverage may result in suspension of future assignments and, if the pattern continues, termination of this Agreement.
Coordinate with the Mahmee virtual doula team for backup support as needed.
Conclude in-person labor support approximately one to two (1–2) hours following delivery, or as clinically appropriate and as directed.
 
Prenatal and Postpartum Appointments
Provide psychosocial support and anticipatory guidance during prenatal and postpartum appointments. Appointments may be conducted in person or virtually based on patient preference and clinical appropriateness, as scheduled by the Company’s care coordinators.
Services include, without limitation: creating birth plans; preparing patients for medical office visits; educating on common labor and delivery practices; planning for postpartum support at home; and facilitating birth story debriefs.
 
Patient Communication
All patient communication must occur through the Mahmee Platform, which supports messaging, phone calls, and video appointments. Any patient communication that occurs outside the platform for any reason must be fully documented in the platform as soon as practicable.
Engage proactively and professionally with patients in a manner that promotes trust, inclusion, respect, and empathy.
Respond to patient messages within the timeframe specified in the then-current platform protocol (default: within four (4) business hours during Contractor’s declared availability window).
Contractor is responsible for responding to patient scheduling and rescheduling requests in a timely manner. While the Mahmee care team may assist with scheduling logistics to support a seamless patient experience, it is not Mahmee’s responsibility to schedule or reschedule patients on Contractor’s behalf.
 
Escalation
Use the escalation tools available through the Mahmee Platform to flag clinical concerns. Escalation to Mahmee’s clinical team is the primary escalation pathway and should be used promptly upon identification of any patient safety or clinical concern.
Where clinically appropriate, Contractor shall advise and encourage the patient to communicate concerns directly to their obstetrician, midwife, or primary care provider. Contractor is not required to contact the patient’s medical providers directly but shall ensure that relevant concerns are communicated to Mahmee’s clinical team without delay.
 
Care Coordination
Coordinate with other Mahmee care team members, including but not limited to nurses, lactation consultants, care coordinators, mental health coaches, and nutrition coaches, to ensure continuity of care.
Document all patient encounters in the Mahmee Platform as soon as practicable following each encounter, with same-day documentation strongly encouraged. Documentation must be completed no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the encounter.
Adhere to the Company’s then-current platform protocols governing provider-driven appointment cancellations and rescheduling. Limits on provider-initiated cancellations and rescheduling are defined by those protocols, which may be updated by the Company upon notice to Contractor.

Platform Protocols and Availability

Contractor shall declare and maintain availability windows in the Mahmee Platform as a condition of receiving assignment to patients and appointments.
Contractor shall use the Mahmee Platform for all scheduling, documentation, messaging, and reporting related to Services performed under this Agreement.
Contractor shall not circumvent platform-assigned workflows, accept Mahmee patient assignments outside the platform, or alter platform records in any unauthorized manner.
Contractor shall complete the Company’s required onboarding and platform training prior to performing any Services. The training stipend, if any, is set forth in Exhibit B.

Professional Responsibilities

Comply with all applicable federal and state law, including HIPAA, the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, and all professional certification requirements.
Comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all implementing regulations; provide or request language assistance services for patients with limited English proficiency.
Refrain from the unauthorized practice of medicine or any other licensed profession. Doula services do not include clinical diagnosis, prescription, or any act that constitutes the practice of medicine, nursing, or midwifery.