Anne Richards, MSN, RN, CNM

I am writing to formally recognize Anne and the extraordinary level of care she provides within Kaiser’s midwife program. Her impact on my experience—and on my family’s continued relationship with Kaiser—has been profound.

Background Context

I initially chose Kaiser specifically because of the midwife program. The care Anne provides is the reason I signed up, and it is the reason I have stayed. I have declined other insurance options over company changes, including less expensive and otherwise preferred alternatives, because of the quality of care within this specific program.

Over time, our family has become further embedded in Kaiser’s system, including pediatric care, which has continued to support us well. Anne’s care was the catalyst for that long-term commitment.

Anne’s Impact

1. She builds genuine trust and connection.

Anne has a rare ability to connect with her patients as people, not medical record numbers. I trusted her guidance, knowledge, and coaching as I prepared for birth. She took the time to understand my family, my personal circumstances, and my goals. She consistently came to appointments prepared with relevant background information specific to me.

I always felt known—not processed. That level of personal investment builds deep trust, and it fundamentally changes the patient’s experience.

2. She thoughtfully leverages data and evidence.

Living in the Bay Area, many patients, including myself, value data-driven decision-making. When I was considering a VBAC, Anne proactively brought research, statistics, and reference materials into our conversations. She didn’t wait for uncertainty to grow; she anticipated my questions and came prepared with thoughtful, evidence-based guidance.

This combination of warmth and rigor is rare and incredibly impactful.

3. She leaves you better than she finds you.

Anne listens deeply. She identifies concerns quickly and addresses them directly, always offering a constructive path forward. She consistently creates clarity where there is worry and confidence where there is doubt. Each appointment left me feeling more informed, more grounded, and more capable.

Her Lasting Impact

While the impact Anne has had on my mental and physical health cannot easily be quantified, I feel it daily—in both big and small ways. I can confidently say that I was able to have a successful VBAC largely because of Anne’s care throughout my pregnancy (alongside the excellent L&D team).

Under her care, I was able to shift my energy away from anxiety and worry after a non-ideal 1st delivery toward supporting a healthy pregnancy and birth. I made a confident, informed birth plan that was both realistic and flexible. And I avoided a longer recovery, which enabled me to better care for my family and myself.

These outcomes matter deeply—not just clinically, but emotionally and practically.

Finally, Anne’s impact extends well beyond my own experience. Just a few weeks ago, while meeting with women in a local run club, her name came up organically. Every Kaiser patient who had a delivery at RWC in the group immediately responded with the same sentiment: “Anne is the best.”

That kind of reputation is earned through consistent excellence. Anne represents the very best of what patient-centered care should look like. She is an asset not only to her patients, but to Kaiser as an organization.

I hope her leadership team recognizes the extraordinary value she brings every day.