The MATCH (Midwifery and Toronto Community Health) Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) is helping reshape perinatal care in Toronto, demonstrating what’s possible when hospitals and community providers work hand-in-hand to close gaps in care.
For most of its 30-year history in Ontario, midwifery has focused only on supporting people who carry their pregnancies to term. But many individuals experience early pregnancy loss, and too often, their care options have been limited to emergency departments — a setting that may not meet their physical or emotional needs.
Leadership in the obstetrics and midwifery departments at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) identified this gap in care for patients experiencing complications in the first trimester of pregnancy and reached out to the MATCH Program team. There was a shared recognition that the midwifery model of care, with an emphasis on informed choice, client-centred care, and continuity of care was well suited to provide excellent, high-quality care to this population.
In 2023, the MATCH team began staffing the Early Pregnancy Clinic (EPC) at MGH, with the goal of creating a welcoming outpatient space where people experiencing early pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, or other early pregnancy complications can receive compassionate, evidence-based care, and timely follow-up.
“People experiencing early pregnancy loss or other complications in the first trimester deserve access to the same kind of specialized, patient-centred care that people readily receive in later stages of pregnancy,” says Jenna Bly, registered midwife and MATCH Program co-lead. “Midwifery leadership in the EPC has allowed MGH to treat this group of patients as a priority population, which is the type of care and respect they deserve.”
Since staffing the EPC, MATCH midwives have expanded clinic hours, introduced a seven-day-a-week phone line for patient support, created new pathways for uninsured clients to receive access to hospital-based care, and developed evidence-based protocols in collaboration with obstetrics that have standardized care for all patients. The midwives have also successfully advocated for a dedicated space for the clinic with a separate entrance and waiting room. The new clinic space is decorated with beautiful artwork, creating a welcoming and safe environment for people who may be dealing with grief and loss.
“This partnership shows how community and hospital teams can work together to close gaps in care and improve health outcomes,” says Shezeen Suleman, registered midwife and MATCH Program co-lead. “By integrating midwives into hospital settings outside of labour and delivery, we’re expanding access, improving quality, and ensuring that care reflects the diverse needs of our community.”
What began as a shared commitment to improving patient experience has grown into a model of collaboration that’s strengthening the entire system and centering dignity, compassion, and respect across every stage of pregnancy.
“Thanks to our partnership with MATCH midwives, MGH patients experiencing early pregnancy loss or complications have rapid access to compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care, which provides them support during what can be a difficult time of stress or grief,” says Christie Lockhart, Chief of Midwifery and Medical Director of Quality, Innovation and Research at MGH. “This partnership between MGH and SRCHC is a novel approach to early pregnancy care and demonstrates the value of integrating care between hospitals and community organizations to improve the health of our communities, and to deliver seamless care when our patients need it most.”
Through partnership, innovation, and a shared vision for access and health equity, MATCH and MGH are redefining what perinatal care can look like — and ensuring that every person, regardless of pregnancy outcome, has access to the high-quality care and compassion they deserve.