Transition of Care Doula

Hackensack Meridian Health; Edison (NJ); Hybrid; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Hackensack Meridian Health is seeking a Transition of Care Doula in New Jersey. This hybrid role combines traditional doula support with essential care coordination to help birthing people have a safe, empowering birth experience.

Responsibilities include providing emotional and physical support, advocating for patient choices, coordinating with nurses and the care team, and guiding families through postpartum planning, discharge, and community resources.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.
• 1+ year of active experience as a certified Doula.
• Willingness to travel 24/7 to provide in-person support.
• Knowledge of social needs impacting maternal outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods.
• Advocate for patient choices and coordinate with nurses and other members of the clinical care team.
• Collaborate with the patient's provider, nurses, and hospital staff to ensure seamless and personalized care.
• Document all support and resources in department records in a timely and professional manner.
• Adhere to policies and participate in multidisciplinary rounds; ensure communication about care plan alterations.

Job description

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Transition of Care Doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person and their family before, during, and shortly after childbirth. This position is a unique, hybrid role that combines traditional doula support with essential care coordination. The primary goal is to help the birthing person have a safe, memorable, and empowering experience by providing personalized care, advocacy, and evidence-based resources. Works to nurture and protect the client's memory of their birth experience.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Transition of Care Doula at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

Doula Support & Patient Advocacy

• Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing individuals and their families through the prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum period.
• Advocate for patient choices and preferences, communicating effectively with the registered nurse and other members of the clinical care team.
• Collaborate with the patient's provider, nurses, and hospital staff to ensure seamless and personalized care.

Labor and Birth Support

• Provide continuous, uninterrupted support throughout active labor and delivery.
• Provides physical support by suggesting position changes, applying counter-pressure and massage, assisting with hydrotherapy (tub/shower when approved by healthcare team), and ensuring the client is hydrated and nourished.
• Gives emotional support by providing a calm, reassuring presence, offering encouragement and affirmations, and helping the client work through fear and anxiety.

Transition of Care Coordination

• Assess patients' post-discharge needs, considering social needs, to develop an individualized postpartum transition plan.
• Facilitate communication between the family and the healthcare team to remove barriers to a safe and timely discharge.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of community resources and provide families with referrals, including but not limited to:
  • OB-Gyn, pediatrician, or other specialists follow-up appointments.
  • Lactation support (IBCLCs, CLCs) and feeding clinics.
  • Behavioral health resources, including support groups.
  • Transportation and financial assistance programs.
  • Provide patient-centered education on postpartum recovery, newborn care, and early parenthood.

Professional & Team Responsibilities

• Adhere to all HMH policies and guidelines, including infection control and safety protocols.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team rounds to identify and address potential barriers to discharge and patient well-being.
• Document all support and resources provided in a timely and professional manner in accordance with department protocols.
• Ensure close communication with providers and nurses regarding any modifications to the care plan.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Minimum of 1 or more years of active experience as a certified Doula in the last 3 years.
• This regional position requires reliable transportation for travel throughout the service area and 24/7 availability to provide in-person support for patients during labor.
• Knowledge of social needs and their impact on maternal and infant outcomes.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent, patient-centered support with a high degree of empathy and professionalism.
• Accustomed to working in a fast-paced team environment, prioritize tasks and act professionally under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of clinical or community-based experience as a practicing doula.
• Experience working within a hospital or clinical setting.
• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems, such as EPIC.
• Bilingual skills.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Certified Labor Support Doula or End-of-Life Doula Professional Certification.
• BLS AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

• Dual certification as both a Birth and Postpartum Doula.
• Additional certifications, such as Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Childbirth Educator (CBE), or in perinatal mental health.
• A professional license in a related field (e.g., LPN, Social Work).
• Interpreter training (If bilingual).

Starting Minimum Rate

Minimum rate of $27.13 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness. Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies. Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization. Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.