Dana Humes Goff, Boyd Obstetrics
Health care is a tradition in the family of Galesburg native Dana Humes Goff. Her mother was an LPN, and her oldest sister was in nurse’s training at Cottage Hospital when Humes Goff was born. “She was on OB rotation the night my mother went into labor with me, and she assisted with my birth,” she said.
Taking up the nursing baton, Humes Goff graduated from Carl Sandburg College with an associate degree in Nursing. She worked as an RN at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg in labor and delivery for five years before beginning similar work at Methodist Medical Center. “I moved into management and administration, subsequently serving as the director of Maternal Child Nursing. During this tenure, I completed my BSN at Bradley University and my master’s in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.”
In addition, Humes Goff is Board Certified in Midwifery, Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics, Fetal Monitoring, and Neonatal Resuscitation. Recognizing her extensive credentials, Methodist hired Humes Goff as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in 1994, adding to her duties as director of Maternal Child Nursing. She became the first CNM to perform deliveries at Peoria hospitals.
She joined Dr. Marc Boyd in his practice, Boyd Obstetrics, in 1998. “Certified Nurse Midwives are advanced practice nurses who care for women in all aspects of their health care needs. We perform pre-natal care, uncomplicated vaginal deliveries in the hospital setting, pap smears, breast exams, physicals, contraceptive maintenance, primary care, treat menopause and provide hormone replacement, counsel and treat sexual dysfunction, and many other aspects of care,” she said. “I want to stress that the role of the CNM extends beyond just delivering babies. Because the word ‘midwife’ is in our title, many think our only focus is OB. However, midwife means ‘with woman,’ and our profession encompasses all aspects of women’s health care.”
Nurse midwives tend to be as non-interventional as possible, Humes Goff observed. “I will utilize technology if it’s indicated for an individual patient. However, if a labor patient is doing well without an IV and taking oral fluids well, for example, I often won’t order an IV for her. I’m all for pain relief if the patient requests it, and most CNMs use analgesia and epidurals to some extent. I’m also open to using alternative medicine, herbal preparations, and other options for patients before resorting to the more traditional medical approach.”
Humes Goff sees patients in the office four days a week, makes hospital rounds, and delivers babies around the clock. During more than 20 years of obstetric experience, she’s delivered more than 1,000 babies.
She said her oldest sister, Janice, was a big influence on her decision to go into nursing and later midwifery. “She became a CNM in 1975 while in the Air Force. She had always been my mentor and role model, and I suppose I wanted to emulate her. I considered taking the MCAT and pursing medicine, but I liked nursing. I feel nursing encompasses all characteristics of health: the psycho/social considerations, the spiritual, the sexual, as well as the physical component.”
The majority of CNMs have master’s degrees and a registered nursing license, Humes Goff said, but some CNMs are RNs who don’t have advanced or graduate degrees, instead earning a certificate in Midwifery. “They’re still CNMs and take the same board certification test CNMs with university degrees take. However, CNMs are often confused with Lay Midwives. Lay Midwives don’t necessarily have any kind of formal medical training, but have been apprenticed by other Lay Midwives. These midwives deliver only in homes and are illegal in Illinois.”
She said CNMs can practice independently and not be employed by a physician or hospital. “In these situations, the CNM contracts with an M.D., who provides consultation or surgery skills when necessary. In most cases, CNMs work in a collaborative relationship with one or more physicians, as I do. I have my own private patients I see exclusively—unless there’s a problem that requires either a simple consultation with Dr. Boyd, co-management of the patient care, or a referral of the patient to his care completely. I also see his patients when he’s called away.”
Humes Goff said she enjoys her collaborative relationship with Boyd. “We work well together and have a mutual trust and respect for one another that’s evident to our patients. I feel patients get the best of both worlds: more time spent with them; personalized care; education; a holistic approach to their health care needs; and nursing, midwifery, and medical expertise.”
She said there seems to be increasing numbers of consumers seeking out CNMs for their health care needs. “I have a very busy practice consisting of gynecologic and obstetric patients, and it’s continuing to grow. Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising, and I get many referrals; in fact, I have many doctors’ wives as patients.”
Humes Goff said the skills of a midwife are sought by women across the socioeconomic spectrum. “It seems to be as popular with the indigent population as it is with the middle class. Women appreciate being listened to and educated about their bodies. We tend to take more time with patients during office visits and labor, and we promote wellness and education. It’s a more personal touch, a luxury we can afford because we don’t have to fit a surgery schedule into our days like our physician colleagues. Midwives are also becoming more appealing to insurance companies because of our cost-effectiveness, high patient satisfaction, and quality outcomes.”
She believes she and other midwives like her are in a unique position to care for patients. “As a woman, I often can empathize with other women about their health. From hormonal, menopausal symptoms to having gone through pregnancies, I can relate to their symptoms and concerns.”
Unfortunately, barriers and prejudices are among the challenges she faces. “Nurse-midwives have had to battle for privileges, recognition, and simple consideration from many in the medical community—at least in the Peoria area. Some physicians simply won’t acknowledge us or speak to us. Hopefully, we’ll all be able to work together in the future for the sake of the patients,” she said.
The best part of her job, said Humes Goff, is assisting other women in understanding their bodies, answering their questions honestly and completely, and allowing them to be empowered and in control of their health. “Returning women to a quality of life they haven’t experienced for a while is very rewarding. Of course, guiding a newborn baby into the world isn’t bad either.” TPW
Taking up the nursing baton, Humes Goff graduated from Carl Sandburg College with an associate degree in Nursing. She worked as an RN at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg in labor and delivery for five years before beginning similar work at Methodist Medical Center. “I moved into management and administration, subsequently serving as the director of Maternal Child Nursing. During this tenure, I completed my BSN at Bradley University and my master’s in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.”
In addition, Humes Goff is Board Certified in Midwifery, Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics, Fetal Monitoring, and Neonatal Resuscitation. Recognizing her extensive credentials, Methodist hired Humes Goff as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in 1994, adding to her duties as director of Maternal Child Nursing. She became the first CNM to perform deliveries at Peoria hospitals.
She joined Dr. Marc Boyd in his practice, Boyd Obstetrics, in 1998. “Certified Nurse Midwives are advanced practice nurses who care for women in all aspects of their health care needs. We perform pre-natal care, uncomplicated vaginal deliveries in the hospital setting, pap smears, breast exams, physicals, contraceptive maintenance, primary care, treat menopause and provide hormone replacement, counsel and treat sexual dysfunction, and many other aspects of care,” she said. “I want to stress that the role of the CNM extends beyond just delivering babies. Because the word ‘midwife’ is in our title, many think our only focus is OB. However, midwife means ‘with woman,’ and our profession encompasses all aspects of women’s health care.”
Nurse midwives tend to be as non-interventional as possible, Humes Goff observed. “I will utilize technology if it’s indicated for an individual patient. However, if a labor patient is doing well without an IV and taking oral fluids well, for example, I often won’t order an IV for her. I’m all for pain relief if the patient requests it, and most CNMs use analgesia and epidurals to some extent. I’m also open to using alternative medicine, herbal preparations, and other options for patients before resorting to the more traditional medical approach.”
Humes Goff sees patients in the office four days a week, makes hospital rounds, and delivers babies around the clock. During more than 20 years of obstetric experience, she’s delivered more than 1,000 babies.
She said her oldest sister, Janice, was a big influence on her decision to go into nursing and later midwifery. “She became a CNM in 1975 while in the Air Force. She had always been my mentor and role model, and I suppose I wanted to emulate her. I considered taking the MCAT and pursing medicine, but I liked nursing. I feel nursing encompasses all characteristics of health: the psycho/social considerations, the spiritual, the sexual, as well as the physical component.”
The majority of CNMs have master’s degrees and a registered nursing license, Humes Goff said, but some CNMs are RNs who don’t have advanced or graduate degrees, instead earning a certificate in Midwifery. “They’re still CNMs and take the same board certification test CNMs with university degrees take. However, CNMs are often confused with Lay Midwives. Lay Midwives don’t necessarily have any kind of formal medical training, but have been apprenticed by other Lay Midwives. These midwives deliver only in homes and are illegal in Illinois.”
She said CNMs can practice independently and not be employed by a physician or hospital. “In these situations, the CNM contracts with an M.D., who provides consultation or surgery skills when necessary. In most cases, CNMs work in a collaborative relationship with one or more physicians, as I do. I have my own private patients I see exclusively—unless there’s a problem that requires either a simple consultation with Dr. Boyd, co-management of the patient care, or a referral of the patient to his care completely. I also see his patients when he’s called away.”
Humes Goff said she enjoys her collaborative relationship with Boyd. “We work well together and have a mutual trust and respect for one another that’s evident to our patients. I feel patients get the best of both worlds: more time spent with them; personalized care; education; a holistic approach to their health care needs; and nursing, midwifery, and medical expertise.”
She said there seems to be increasing numbers of consumers seeking out CNMs for their health care needs. “I have a very busy practice consisting of gynecologic and obstetric patients, and it’s continuing to grow. Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising, and I get many referrals; in fact, I have many doctors’ wives as patients.”
Humes Goff said the skills of a midwife are sought by women across the socioeconomic spectrum. “It seems to be as popular with the indigent population as it is with the middle class. Women appreciate being listened to and educated about their bodies. We tend to take more time with patients during office visits and labor, and we promote wellness and education. It’s a more personal touch, a luxury we can afford because we don’t have to fit a surgery schedule into our days like our physician colleagues. Midwives are also becoming more appealing to insurance companies because of our cost-effectiveness, high patient satisfaction, and quality outcomes.”
She believes she and other midwives like her are in a unique position to care for patients. “As a woman, I often can empathize with other women about their health. From hormonal, menopausal symptoms to having gone through pregnancies, I can relate to their symptoms and concerns.”
Unfortunately, barriers and prejudices are among the challenges she faces. “Nurse-midwives have had to battle for privileges, recognition, and simple consideration from many in the medical community—at least in the Peoria area. Some physicians simply won’t acknowledge us or speak to us. Hopefully, we’ll all be able to work together in the future for the sake of the patients,” she said.
The best part of her job, said Humes Goff, is assisting other women in understanding their bodies, answering their questions honestly and completely, and allowing them to be empowered and in control of their health. “Returning women to a quality of life they haven’t experienced for a while is very rewarding. Of course, guiding a newborn baby into the world isn’t bad either.” TPW