Dive Brief:
- There's a growing trend in maternity care: hospitals are hiring OB hospitalists, called "laborists", to step in and work shifts when primary care OBs aren't available. The goal is to always have someone on hand for births and obstetrical emergencies.
- With this arrangement, local obstetricians don't have to be constantly on call because because the laborist will be at the hospital to cover care.
- The trade-off is that some maternity patients will give birth with a physician they’ve never met before.
Dive Insight:
The trend toward laborists is being driven by several factors, including hospitals aiming to improve patient safety and satisfaction. Today's physicians are also seeking better work-life balance, suggests Kaiser Health News.
There are about 250 U.S. hospitals that now use OB hospitalists and several more are joining the trend each month, according to the Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists, based in Philadelphia. That's a sharp increase from just 10 hospitals a decade ago.
Some of those hospitals report a drop in their C-section rates, which they attribute to laborists who are willing to spend more time with women in labor. Some also report fewer elective early deliveries, which can increase risks.
Models for the trend vary with some hospitals scheduling laborists 24/7 while others use them nights and weekends only. Private practice obstetricians will generally still see their patients at the hospital but have the option to defer to or collaborate with the laborist.