Hospitalists. The Carrier currently does not have a hospitalist program in place but is considering implementing such a program in the future. The Carrier continues to maintain interest in encouraging Hospitals to contract with Physicians who specialize in providing Emergency room consultation and Inpatient management services.
Hospitalists. The third alternative model of care is the obstetric hospitalist model. Obstetrician hospitalists work exclusively with hospitalized obstetrical patients and are full-time hospital employees that they enjoy a predictable shift-based work schedule. In this model, women see a community obstetrician for prenatal care, and their labor and delivery is attended by an Obstetric Hospitalist, who fetal heart tracings, address dysfunctional labor and preform operative deliveries. As hospital based physicians, they maintain communication with patients’ regular physician and provide the option of delivering for the physician. The women will then return to their community-based obstetrician for all postpartum care. This model of care has been rapidly growing since the mid-2000 with 164 obstetric hospitalists currently practicing in the US. This model has the potential to provide a safer birthing experience for women and also a better work-life balance for providers. In their 2012 article, Xxxxx, et al., explain the numerous factors that brought about this model including the fact that many poor patient outcomes happen because an obstetrician is not immediately on the scene when the patient comes to deliver at the hospital [31]. Furthermore, younger providers are becoming more interested in few work hours a work sharing, resulting in rotations and shift work in hospitals [31]. In 2009, a study conducted by Funk and Xxxxxxxx found that Obstetric Hospitalists were younger than other specialties within the obstetric field and that overall they had a higher rate of career satisfaction with 76% stating stratified or above and only 8% stating dissatisfied [22]. However, the efficacy of the hospitalist model is unknown in smaller rural hospitals. Funk found that a large majority of these providers are working in hospitals with more than 1000 births per year, and only 22% working in hospitals that deliver fewer than 1000 births per year [22].
Hospitalists. The third alternative model of care is the obstetric hospitalist model. Obstetrician hospitalists work exclusively with hospitalized obstetrical patients and are full-time hospital employees that they enjoy a predictable shift-based work schedule. In this model, women see a community obstetrician for prenatal care, and their labor and delivery is attended by an Obstetric Hospitalist, who fetal heart tracings, address dysfunctional labor and preform operative deliveries. As hospital based physicians, they maintain communication with patients’ regular physician and provide the option of delivering for the physician. The women will then return to their community-based obstetrician for all postpartum care.
