Coordinate
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Navigate complex hospital workflows
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Facilitate transfer between levels of care (primary to tertiary referral)
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Bring prior labs and imaging results
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Purchase medications and supplies stocked out of public system
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Bring patient samples to outside laboratory (if not available in public system)
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Coordinate transportation from rural villages to hospital
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Communicate
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Language interpretation between mothers and medical providers
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Cultural interpretation between mothers and medical providers
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Contextualize limitations faced by medical providers for mothers and families
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Provide updates to family and traditional birth attendant
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Support
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Continuous labor support (e.g. verbal encouragement)
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Coach patient through uncomfortable procedures (e.g. cervical exam)
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Companionship during hospitalization
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Emotional support (e.g. express empathy, reassurance)
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Take steps to protect patient dignity (e.g. shielding mother while she changes into a gown in public labor ward)
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Advocate
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Alert nurses and doctors to mother’s needs
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Encourage mothers to accept necessary interventions (ex: cervical exam)
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Speak on behalf of mothers (e.g. reinforce refusal of Cesarean delivery)
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Prevent or deflect mistreatment
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