Survey of obstetric and gynecologic hospitalists and laborists.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to obtain descriptive information about obstetricians/gynecologists who currently are practicing as hospitalists or laborists.

STUDY DESIGN

A survey was emailed to all actively practicing member Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in April 2009. A second emailing of the survey was sent in May 2009.

RESULTS

Obstetrician/gynecologist hospitalists and laborists are significantly younger than the rest of the obstetrician/gynecologist sample by age and years in residency and have a high rate of career satisfaction. There was a great deal of variation in work schedules and compensation of the respondents.

CONCLUSION

We analyzed the rapidly growing hospitalist/laborist model of care within the obstetrician/gynecologist specialty. The laborists and hospitalists model provides an alternative type of practice for obstetricians/gynecologists, and it is associated with high career satisfaction. It is important that we continue to monitor the needs of this burgeoning field of clinical practice.