Mary O’Meara, Certified Nurse Midwife Owner, CNM Women’s Healthcare, Tampa, Florida

What population do you serve?

Population: The population I serve includes lower socio-economic women, Hispanic populations, and some migrant workers who are patients of the county health department. I have a large public health contract with the county health department to provide care to these groups. In fact, I have won the bid on this contract several times when it has come up for re-authorization. Practitioners should really get to know the community in which they practice and what is needed in that specific community. This will help the practitioner to successfully present what they can provide to the community when applying for such a grant.

Community Assessment: I had worked in this same community for the previous seven years before I started my own practice. So I had 1st hand experience and understanding of the community and its existing services. I had been to those areas, had contact with people in the area, and knew about the outcomes and what was missing there. That is something I really encourage people to do is to be involved in other things....setting up clinics, teaching students. It also takes devotion and commitment. You can’t just say you want to set up your own practice but only come into the office from 9-5. You have to be involved in whole the community and in the whole practice.