Developing the Infrastructure and Services

Using a common set of recommendations for staffing, facility design, and equipment, each WWC seeks to address the particular healthcare needs of women in its catchment area.

• Equipment
• Staffing Recommendations
• Facility Design
• Marketing Strategy
• Record Keeping (to be developed)

Equipment

Equipment at each WWC typically includes sterilizers, microscopes, blood pressure devices, doppler monitors, colposcopes, examination tables, lamps, and laboratory supplies. All centers are also equipped with televisions, VCRs, slide projectors, a wide variety of printed materials pertaining to women's and children's health issues, and anatomical models used to help patients understand their bodies and the changes that can occur as a result of pregnancy, aging, or disease.

Staffing Recommendations

Most WWCs have three physicians - two Ob/Gyns and one general practitioner or internist - and a chief midwife who supervises one or two other midwives. Additional staff generally include an administrator, a nurse who serves as a receptionist/patient flow manager, a nurse or midwife in charge of patient education, and a part-time psychologist or social worker. Some centers also employ a part-time business or marketing professional.

Facility Design

A typical WWC has as many as four examination rooms, one treatment or procedural room, and an education room. Each centeralso has have offices for healthcare providers, laboratory space, utility rooms, bathrooms, a storage area, and a staff room.

Marketing and Communications Strategy

Identify and use available Public Relations sources for information dissemination and marketing purposes. This may include, but not limited to, information dissemination through local and international NGOs, newspapers, web sites, presentations at professional conferences, regular press conferences, public awareness campaigns, TV, radio, and press interactions.