Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America
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The obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) hospitalist is the latest subspecialist to evolve from obstetrics and gynecology. Starting in 2002, academic leaders recognized the impact of such coalescing forces as the pressure to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, stagnant reimbursements and the increasing cost of private practice, the decrease in applications for OB/GYN residencies, and the demand among practicing OB/GYNs for work/life balance. Initially coined laborist, the concept of the OB/GYN hospitalist emerged. Thinking of becoming an OB/GYN hospitalist? Here is what you need to know.
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Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. North Am. · Sep 2015
ReviewRoles of Obstetrician-Gynecologist Hospitalists with Changes in the Obstetrician-Gynecologist Workforce and Practice.
Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) are the fourth largest group of physicians and the only specialty dedicated solely to women's health care. The specialty is unique in providing 24-hour inpatient coverage, surgical care and ambulatory preventive health care. This article identifies and reviews changes in the OB-GYN workforce, including more female OB-GYNs, an increasing emphasis on work-life balance, more sub-specialization, larger group practices with more employed physicians and, finally, an emphasis on quality and performance improvement. It then describes the evolution of the OB-GYN hospitalist movement to date and the role of OB-GYN hospitalists in the future with regard to these workforce changes.
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Sleep deprivation occurs when inadequate sleep leads to decreased performance, inadequate alertness, and deterioration in health. It is incompletely understood why humans need sleep, although some theories include energy conservation, restoration, and information processing. ⋯ Residency programs have enacted strict work restrictions because of medically related errors due to sleep deprivation. Because obstetrics is an unpredictable specialty with long irregular hours, enacting a hospitalist program enhances patient safety, decreases malpractice risk, and improves the physician's quality of life by allowing obstetricians to get sufficient rest.