owning a birth center

[snugglebug14]

I am starting midwifery school as a dem in a few weeks. But, we just found out that we the possibility of moving to our DREAM house in upstate new york. In NY I believe that you can only be a hb midwife if your a cnm or a cm (correct me if i'm wrong) and I can't afford (time or money wise) to go to nursing school right now. But, the property we are looking at has a 1500 sq ft guest house and I had the brilliant thought today of turning it into a birth center and maybe hiring a couple of cnm's to do births there. That way I could be completely involved in birth still, work out of my home essentially and not have to go to nursing school right now.
what are the requirements to own a birth center?
How would I start?
What is involved financially and physically?
What qualifications would I need?
Does anyone know ny's laws around it?
Is it a doable plan?
Thanks so much. I really want that house...I also need to be able to have a job though!

[BeckiCNM]

Visit here - http://www.birthcenters.org/

They can help you out!

Good luck -we need more birth centers...

[Maggi315]

I am also interested in owning a birth center. I did check out the website, i would love to learn more, but it is expensive to attend their program, over 500, I think?

I do believe there is a yahoo group for birth centers? I would love to join and just "listen in". I know that several have closed in my area, the big problems: finding a back up doc that is willing to sign an agreement and insurance. One midwives insurance went from 3000/year to 30000/year! She couldn't afford that and had to close.

Also, all the rules that go with it. I looked into buying a well=established birth center, but I realized I didn't want to work 70-80/week like she was and spend a good deal of my time in meetings with hospitals, employees, local agencies, governing boards, politics, etc. I just want to deliver babies!

Which is why i am content in my practice now. But maybe when my kids are grown, my dream of having a birth center/homebirth practice will come true. Right now, in PA you have to be a CNM to have a birth center, but I know in other states you can be a licensed midwife. Hopefully someday that will hold true in this state.