1. Retaining the perinatal care workforce: Lessons learned from experienced physicians who no longer attend deliveries
- Author
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Barreto, Tyler W., Taylor, Melina K., Goldstein, Jessica Taylor, and Eden, Aimee R.
- Subjects
Maternal health services -- Methods -- Evaluation ,Childbirth -- Methods -- Patient outcomes ,Mothers -- Patient outcomes ,Physicians -- Beliefs, opinions and attitudes ,Business ,Health care industry - Abstract
Objective: To inform policy supporting the retention of family physicians (FPs) in the perinatal care workforce by identifying physician characteristics that are associated with retention. Data Sources and Study Setting: We surveyed FPs who had been in practice for at least 11 years and reported attending deliveries as part of their practice. Study Design: We compared the characteristics of FPs who continue to provide perinatal care to those who have ceased and explored their reasons for no longer attending deliveries. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: We estimated a probit regression with the dependent variable: whether the physician currently delivers babies. Open-ended survey responses were analyzed and close-coded using a conceptual content analysis approach. Principle Findings: Of the FPs who received a survey, 1505 (37%) responded. Those who continue attending deliveries were more likely to receive a stipend or be paid per hour/shift in addition to their salary versus those paid a salary (percentage point difference = 13), and less likely to work part-time versus full-time (percentage point difference = -20). Those who ceased attending deliveries cite lifestyle (n = 208), call structure (n = 113), and delivery volume (n = 89) among the reasons for doing so. Conclusions: Evidence-based policies aimed at preventing attrition from the perinatal care workforce, which might include targeting compensation models and work-life balance. KEYWORDS health workforce, health-care survey, maternal health services, perinatal care What is known on this topic * The number of obstetricians, FPs, and midwives who attend deliveries as part of their practice has decreased. * Decreasing access to perinatal care, partly due to fewer clinicians attending deliveries, may be contributing to poor maternal outcomes in the United States. What this study adds * Experienced FPs who continue to attend deliveries as part of their practice are more likely to be paid for on-call duties in addition to their salary. * Experienced FPs who continue to attend deliveries as part of their practice are less likely to work part-time than those who have ceased attending deliveries., 1 | INTRODUCTION Perinatal morbidity and mortality in the United States are disproportionately high compared to other developed nations. (1,2) Within the United States, there are stark racial differences in [...]
- Published
- 2024
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