For birthing families in the Pacific Northwest, culturally congruent care is closer than you think
Birth outcomes improve when patients see themselves in the people caring for them. It’s a finding that shapes how the midwifery team at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett is built – and how they show up for every family they serve.
“The word ‘midwife’ means ‘to be with women’ and we hold that knowledge not just as etymology but as a practicing philosophy in how we care for our patients,” says Melinda Eng, a certified nurse-midwife with Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Certified nurse-midwives are trained medical professionals who hold a master’s or doctoral degree, specializing in low- to moderate-risk pregnancies – providing personalized care through every stage of the prenatal journey, delivery and into the fourth trimester.
With a cesarean rate of 7-8 percent of births, year after year, Providence midwifery care offers the lowest cesarean rate nationally for a program of its size. Pictured from left to right: Melinda Eng, Ashley Skluzacek, Dana Hansen, Gaby Quiroz
Melinda has been practicing for two years and comes from a Cantonese-speaking family. She has witnessed the gap that opens when a patient can’t fully communicate with the individuals caring for them during one of the most vulnerable moments of their life.
That gap is something the Providence midwifery team is actively working to close.
The 19-member team includes midwives who come from diverse backgrounds – a deliberate reflection of the communities they serve across Snohomish and Island Counties.
Several team members speak Spanish, Cantonese and Ukrainian; an added layer of connection for families navigating care in their second language.
Providence midwife Ellen French, came to midwifery through a path rooted in social justice. Her undergraduate studies focused on Native American cultural studies and she began her career as a doula before pursuing midwifery.
“One of the reasons I was drawn into midwifery is birth outcomes for First Nations families,” Ellen says. “Care that is congruent with a patient’s background results in less bias and better outcomes.”
Ellen points to the intergenerational medical trauma many Indigenous patients carry – a long history of harm in clinical settings that continues to shape how families experience care today.
Culturally congruent care, she says, is one of the most effective tools for rebuilding that trust.
An innovative partnership with out-of-hospital midwives ensures a safe transition to the hospital from home or external birth centers as needed, promoting safety and continuity of care. Pictured from left to right: Gaby Quiroz, Ashley Skluzacek, Melinda Eng, Dana Hansen.
“Every family’s birth plan looks different,” Melinda says. “Some people come in knowing they want a midwife. Others want an OB-GYN. Many end up working with both, plus a doula. Our job is to help families figure out what that team looks like for them.”
The Pavilion for Women and Children at Providence Everett also offers CenteringPregnancy, a prenatal-care model that brings together groups of eight to 10 families with similar due dates, fostering community alongside clinical support.
To book a midwifery appointment, call 425-258-7550 or visit providence.org. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 900 Pacific Ave., Suite 501, in Everett.
Find Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Facebook @ProvidenceSwedishNorth.
