Alabama State Board of Midwifery Board Meeting Minutes
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, March 17, 2023, to conduct business. Board members present included (1) Ms. Noel Leithart(Chair), (2) Mr. Chris Megginson (member), (3) Ms. Christine Litas (member), (4) Ms. Laura Reeder (member), (5) Ms. Layla Brown (member), (6) Dr. Joyce Loyd-Davis (member), and (7) Ms. Stephanie Armstead (member). Also present was Mr. Brad Chynoweth, attorney to the Board and Dr. Sharon Porterfield, administrative assistant to the Board.
The members of the public that were in attendance were Matt Hart (Board of Medical Examiners) and Rebekah Myrick, LM.
The Board meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. With a quorum of board members present, Ms. Leithart called the meeting to order at 10:06am.
Ms. Leithart welcomed the guests. Next she presented the minutes from the September 9, 2022, board meeting. Mr. Megginson moved to accept the September 9 minutes. It was seconded by Layla Brown and approved unanimously by the board.
Ms Leithart gave her report as board Chair. She expressed concern about midwives who are not turning in their Annual Statistics forms that are due on February 1 of each year.
Dr. Porterfield reported on her activities as administrative assistant and gave a financial report.
In Mr. Chynoweth’s legal report, he explained that the Governor had handed down a number of Executive orders. The ones pertinent to the Midwifery Board are EO 726, 734, and 735. Mr. Chynoweth explained what was required in each. The Board voted to have Dr. Porterfield as the Public Records Coordinator and to have Ms. Leithart as the Red Tape Reduction Coordinator. Ms. Leithart agreed to notify the proper people at the governor’s office about these appointments.
Mr. Chynoweth brought forward Complaint # 2022-01. After a basic explanation of the complaint, Mr Chynoweth informed the Board that the Complaint Review Committee had met, reviewed the facts of the complaint, and put forward the recommendation that the complaint proceed to a hearing. After much discussion, Dr. Loyd-Davis moved that the Board accept the recommendation. This was seconded by Ms. Brown. Roll Call vote: Armstead aye, Brown aye, Megginson abstain, Reeder abstain, Litas aye, Loyd-Davis aye. The motion passes. Mr. Chynoweth will contact the midwife about the hearing.
Ms. Myrick asked questions about the complaint proceedings, but they could not be answered until the hearing.
With no further business to discuss and no further comments or questions from the public, Ms. Reeder made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Megginson seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. Ms. Leithart adjourned the meeting at 11:34am.
Respectfully Submitted,
Noel Leithart, Chair
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