title: Definitions of Obstetric and Gynecologic Hospitalists.
abstract: The obstetric hospitalist and the obstetric and gynecologic hospitalist evolved in response to diverse forces in medicine, including the need for leadership on labor and delivery units, an increasing emphasis on quality and safety in obstetrics and gynecology, the changing demographics of the obstetric and gynecologic workforce, and rising liability costs. Current (although limited) research suggests that obstetric and obstetric and gynecologic hospitalists may improve the quality and safety of obstetric care, including lower cesarean delivery rates and higher vaginal birth after cesarean delivery rates as well as lower liability costs and fewer liability events. This research is currently hampered by the use of varied terminology. The leadership of the Society of Obstetric and Gynecologic Hospitalists proposes standardized definitions of an obstetric hospitalist, an obstetric and gynecologic hospitalist, and obstetric and gynecologic hospital medicine practices to standardize communication and facilitate program implementation and research. Clinical investigations regarding obstetric and gynecologic practices (including hospitalist practices) should define inpatient coverage arrangements using these standardized definitions to allow for fair conclusions and comparisons between practices.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah; Townsend Gyn Specialists and Integrated Physician Services, Germantown, Tennessee; Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, and TeamHealth, Knoxville, Tennessee; the Woman's Hospital of Texas and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas; West Valley Women's Care and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Glendale, Arizona; Northwestern Medical Group, Lake Forest, and the University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois; Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, Oregon; Peace Health, Bellingham, Washington; NorthBay Health Care, Fairfield, California; Meridian Specialty Hospitalist Solutions, El Dorado, California; and North Memorial Health Care, Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Brigid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCue
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fagnant
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Shefali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandhi-List
authors.forename: Tanner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colegrove
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stosur
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Karenmarie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tessmer-Tuck
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety; D010819:Physician's Role; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States