I have
Doula Office 2.2 on CD ROM. I purchased it from
www.Birthsource.com for $30. I've seen it in several places. I like it
ok, but I found that I have mainly used it for ideas (and I DID need ideas to start as I am so not creative!). Hardly any of the business forms or administrative forms are exactly what I needed, so they have mainly given me ideas on how to make my own forms from scratch. In this way, it was helpful.
It also has a large stash of educational printouts for clients (53 pages). It is quick reading and not in-depth
(that's good in some cases with some clients, but not enough info in other cases), but if more is needed, they're good supplements. There are quite a few that I frequently use, and some that I never use. There is reading material for how to start a doula business, etc. Again, this information is ok, but very general. I think one can glean more information from doing Internet searches and asking other doulas specific questions (i.e. what we do on this site).
It is in Adobe Reader PDF file format (not a favorite of mine). I have Doula Office 2.2 saved on my desk top, but I don't like that when I click on it....it doesn't automatically open the software. What it does is bring up a window listing 5 files for the separate sections (About Doula Office, Business Forms, Care Paths, Doula Teaching Sheets, Additional Information) that I have to click to view. If I want another section (i.e. I'm in 'Business Forms' but want to look at 'Doula Teaching Sheets'), then I have to exit and go and open the other file. It could be more user-friendly, IMO.
I have never needed to use the Care Path forms. Although I haven't needed any yet, a neat thing is that each care path has a couple of paragraphs on the particular condition titled "Typical Plan of Care", along with defining the condition (i.e. gestational diabetes, HELLP Syndrome, Pre-eclampsia, Multiples, Preterm Labor/Bedrest, and more). This is not in-depth information, but it could point a doula in the right direction if need be, along with a few suggested books on the conditions.
In general, I don't regret buying it to help me get started and to give me ideas. It was worth more to me in the beginning than it is to me now. As a more experienced doula now, I don't use it nearly as often as I did at first. In my opinion, most of the information found on this software can easily be found on the Internet for free, in your training manuals, or in books. I'd probably give it a C+ (but I'm pretty picky).
I don't know if this has helped you or not, but like anything else....it's hard to know what someone else will or will not like. If I can further help to describe this software or topics covered, feel free to ask more questions. Please remember that this is just my opinion and that you or others may like it more or less than I did.
Does anyone use special doula business software?
Doula Office 2.2 CD ROM *Long*
Marilyn,
and my calling to midwifery...someday I'll get there!
