Collaborative maternity care: three decades of success at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

This article describes the development of our collaborative practice, discusses the barriers and challenges presented by the current health care environment, and identifies factors that would encourage the initiation and strengthening of a successful collaborative model in similar settings. Successful collaborative practice is more than just a practice model, or a set of items that, once checked off, will guarantee success. It is a process that is inextricably linked to the focus and dedication of all our clinicians to provide the best care possible for women.