An opportunity for PAs as obstetrical laborists.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The hospitalist model has demonstrated success in improving care quality and safety.
• Labor and delivery care traditionally relies on various provider models.
• There is a growing need for efficient and safe obstetrical care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of the obstetrical laborist model in enhancing labor and delivery care.
• To identify the roles of different healthcare professionals within the laborist model.
• To examine the impact of workforce trends on the adoption of laborists.

Main Methods:

• Review of the hospitalist model and its application to obstetrics.
• Analysis of workforce trends in obstetrical care, including physician assistants (PAs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs).
• Discussion of the scheduled shifts model for laborist care delivery.

Main Results:

• The obstetrical laborist model, based on the hospitalist approach, can significantly improve the quality and safety of labor and delivery services.
• Laborists can include physician assistants (PAs), certified nurse midwives, or obstetricians/gynecologists, operating under a scheduled shifts system.
• Current workforce trends indicate a substantial increase in certified nurse midwives and PAs, suggesting a potential expansion of the laborist movement and increased opportunities for PAs in these roles.

Conclusions:

• The implementation of obstetrical laborists offers a promising strategy for enhancing patient safety and care quality in labor and delivery.
• The increasing numbers of PAs and CNMs align with the growth of the laborist model, presenting new avenues for professional practice and career development.
• Healthcare organizations should consider the laborist model to optimize obstetrical care delivery and leverage evolving workforce demographics.