Excerpt from: Doula Programs: How to Start and Run a Private or Hospital-Based Program with Success!My over eighteen-year career as a professional labor assistant has brought many challenges my way. Among those was the writing of three books. I began working on my first book, Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant, in the mid 1980s. When lecturing on nursing-related issues my introduction involved mentioning that I worked as a monitrice. This always elicited e·lic·it tr.v. e·lic·it·ed, e·lic·it·ing, e·lic·its 1. a. To bring or draw out (something latent); educe. b. To arrive at (a truth, for example) by logic. 2. many questions about the role of the professional labor assistant. These questions prompted me to put down on paper what I had learned while working in this then relatively unknown field. In 1997 I realized that nurses, midwives, and professional labor assistants needed a book that discussed the various labor support and comfort measure techniques currently used in the field. They needed a book that they could carry along to births to remind them of various strategies to use with laboring mothers. This thought germinated and became The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook
This article is about reference works. For the subnotebook computer, see .
As I began to work with more and more hospitals that desired to implement doula dou·la n. A woman who assists another woman during labor and provides support to her, the infant, and the family after childbirth. care as part of their effort to assure quality, I realized that the administrative part of running a doula business was eliciting the most questions. I decided to work with Deaun Thelen on a book that addressed those issues. I soon began to realize that the book not only needed to detail topics for hospital-based programs, but for private programs as well. Although this realization delayed the publication of the book, I felt that it was important to address the nitty-gritty nit·ty-grit·ty n. Informal The specific or practical details; the heart of a matter. [Origin unknown. issues of running a small business comprehensively. Therefore, both private and hospital-based programs were included in the publication of Doula Programs: How to Start and Run a Private or Hospital-Based Program with Success!. I have chosen these particular sections of the third chapter of Doula Programs: How to Start and Run a Private or Hospital-Based Program with Success! (by Paulina Perez and Deaun Thelen, Cutting Edge Press, 1998) because the money issues are often the most troubling ones for both professional labor assistants and childbirth childbirth: see birth. Childbirth Childlessness (See BARRENNESS.) Artemis (Rom. Diana) goddess of childbirth. [Gk. Myth. educators. Chapter Three Calculating Your Annual Expenses Developing and using a budget is part of realistic short and long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. planning. Making an accurate, reliable cash-flow projection is important. When pricing the services provided by your business be sure that you have researched what businesses of your type in your area are charging. Doula charges in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. are quite different than those in Hawesville, Kentucky Hawesville is a city in Hancock County, Kentucky, along the Ohio River. The population was 971 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Owensboro, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Hancock CountyGR6. . You will need to decide if you are going to charge a flat fee, an hourly rate or a combination of the two. You will need to know approximately how much your expenses will be so that you do not find yourself in a cash-flow bind. Your expenses may include the following items: rent, equipment, lending library lend·ing library n. A library from which books may be borrowed or rented for a minimal fee. Also called circulating library. Noun 1. of books and videos, utilities, service charges for bank account, supplies--both administrative and professional, car expenses, and child care expenses, if applicable. You will need to have some idea of how many clients you plan to work with per month and what income those clients will generate. Women usually excel at Verb 1. excel at - be good at; "She shines at math" shine at excel, surpass, stand out - distinguish oneself; "She excelled in math" relationship-building which is a vital part of a doula program both in terms of quality and the bottom line but it is equally important to be able to deal with financial issues. An important part of your cash-flow projection is how and when your clients will pay you for your work. This is often the most difficult of all issues for new doulas. For many, it is hard to deal with money issues but if you don't deal with these up front you may not be in business long. When deciding what to charge, look at the average charges for similar services in your community. To avoid undercharging for your services, realize that after you've recovered your expenses each additional dollar helps keep your program in business. As part of your research, pay particular attention to specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. magazines and brochures. See what charges for similar services are being made even in areas distant from yours. Trends in distant markets may reveal information you can apply to your business locally. Charges are also dependent on services offered. These charges may be pro-rated according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. ability to pay, may be due at separate times or as a lump sum Lump sum A large one-time payment of money. at a certain time. For instance, some doulas charge an initial consultation fee that is payable at the time of service. When you price your doula services you will need to know how long it will take you to find a client, complete the work and then receive payment. Questions to ask yourself may include the following: Will I accept a payment plan? Over what interval of time? Will I ask for payment in advance of the birth? Will I require a non-refundable deposit? Will I barter barter: see exchange. barter Direct exchange of goods or services without the use of money or any other intervening medium of exchange. Barter is conducted either according to established rates of exchange or by bargaining. for services? Charges in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. for doula services range from free to $1000 per birth. Many doulas start their business "on the side" and do not initially depend on their program to provide their total income. Initial Costs Doulas just starting out in business often have difficulty with the financial side of their business. Remember that it takes money to make money. Do not make the mistake of underestimating your initial costs. Be sure to include all the office equipment and services that you may need such as furniture, office supplies Office supplies is the generic term that refers to all supplies regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, from private citizens to governments, who works with the collection, refinement, and output of information (colloquially referred to as "paper work"). , phones and phone services, computers, modems, fax machines, computer programs, scanners and other peripherals, peripheral accessories, copiers, pagers, software and upgrades, service contracts, warranties and tech support. Be sure that they are included in your list of fixed expenses. Track subsequent cash infusions, too, after the initial investment. Keep a current balance sheet. Otherwise, your business could be dangerously draining your personal assets. Learning to develop and administer a budget for your program will help meet and often exceed financial goals. You will use your budget as a "crystal ball" to help you recognize future operating trends. Few small businesses bother to gauge whether they're making the most of their economic resources and make the mistake of thinking that number crunching Refers to computers running mathematical, scientific or CAD applications, which perform large amounts of calculations. See number cruncher. (application, jargon) number crunching is overkill overkill Vox populi An excess of anything . It isn't. Most banks will require this information if you are applying for a loan. If you measure nothing else in your business it is critical to measure your quick ratio. Many businesses fail as their quick ratio is below 1:1. Home-Based Businesses According to the American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
Most private doula businesses are home-based as are approximately 20% of new small businesses. The benefits of a home-based business are obvious: * You control your own time * You have no commute TO COMMUTE. To substitute one punishment in the place of another. For example, if a man be sentenced to be hung, the executive may, in some states, commute his punishment to that of imprisonment. to work * Your rent is reasonable * Increased productivity * Fewer distractions * Being your own boss There are also disadvantages to having a home-based business. They are: * It is very easy to work too much and too long * Less time for yourself * Hard to separate personal and work lives * Less time for family and friends * Part of your living space must be maintained as a business It is important when operating a home-based business that the phone be answered properly. Answer it on the second or third ring or have your answering machine or voice mail system pick up. Don't bring personal details personal details npl (on form etc) → coordonnées fpl personal details person npl → Personalien pl personal details into your business conversations. Train family members to respect that a business is being run from home and try to keep "domestic" sounds out of hearing range of your professional calls. You might consider keeping a mini-script by the telephone for use when answering the phone. Incoming calls are the first way a prospective client gets to know you. Use this to the fullest extent by being prepared and responding professionally. Permits and Licenses Research whether you will need a business license for your doula program. This is obtained through your state government. You will need this permit to open a bank account in your business name. You will also need to register your business name in order to open a business bank account. Register your name through your county and they will do a search to be sure that no one else is using the name locally. If you wish to protect use of your business name it may be helpful to consult an attorney who has expertise in copyrights and trademarks. If you are planning on running a home-based business, be aware that many places have prohibitive pro·hib·i·tive also pro·hib·i·to·ry adj. 1. Prohibiting; forbidding: took prohibitive measures. 2. ordinances in effect. Contact other home-based business owners in your area or a local or national association of home-based businesses regarding this issue for more in-depth information. Once you are in business, you can deduct de·duct v. de·duct·ed, de·duct·ing, de·ducts v.tr. 1. To take away (a quantity) from another; subtract. 2. To derive by deduction; deduce. v.intr. from your taxes any expenses associated with starting and running the business. This will include seminars, manuals such as this one, books, professional subscriptions, office equipment, and marketing materials. Professional Liability Insurance Liability insurance is one of the issues you will want to consider. If you are involved in a hospital program, the program itself may want to consider blanket coverage that provides insurance for childbirth educators and doulas. Even if you are employed by a hospital program, you may want to investigate private defense insurance, as you are not protected if you give professional advice outside your employment. Do not rely on your homeowner's policy solely and check exclusions carefully. Insurance coverage can cover amounts from $50,000 to $400,000 per incident per year and might also give you portability so you can take the protection from job to job. Liability insurance also provides legal defense coverage, payment for loss of earnings, and future claims against you. For some people, this coverage provides peace of mind. Others feel it adds credibility to their profession, however, you must consider the possibility of lawsuits occurring more easily simply because you have insurance coverage. Going without liability insurance may be a risk you can tolerate tol·er·ate v. 1. To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit. 2. To put up with; endure. 3. To have tolerance for a substance or pathogen. , if you do only non-medical procedures. To get more information about insurance programs for doulas contact Cotterell Mitchell Mitchell, city (1990 pop. 13,798), seat of Davison co., SE S.Dak.; inc. 1881. Mitchell is a trade, distribution, and shipping center for a dairy and livestock area. & Fiffer in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of at 212/233-8911, Maginnis and Associates in Chicago, 800-621-3008 ext. 240, or Dean Insurance Agency in Florida at 407-638-4470. Some insurance programs may require you to join a group or professional association to qualify for coverage. Since the publication of Doula Programs I have learned from the comments of the readers that this book is helpful to anyone starting a small business not just doula programs. The information in the book is applicable to midwives, childbirth educators, physicians or others wanting to start and run a small business. Excerpted from Doula Programs: How to Start and Run a Private or Hospital-Based Program with Success! by Paulina Perez and Deaun Thelen, Cutting Edge Press, 1998. |
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