Abstract
In Brief Objective To assess concordance between family physician obstetric privilege delineation and actual care delivered, and describe associated clinical and educational collaborations between family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. Methods We conducted a descriptive retrospective review of the care and complications of 962 consecutive patients admitted to a family medicine obstetric service in a research-intensive academic medical center, and compared the results with a structured obstetric privilege delineation. Results Of 962 women admitted by family medicine faculty members, 741 (77.9%) were managed exclusively by family physicians, 63 (6.6%) were comanaged by family physicians and obstetricians, and 147 (15.5%) were transferred to obstetricians (data missing for 11 patients). Spontaneous vaginal deliveries were performed in 772 patients (81%), cesarean delivery in 116 patients (12.2%), and assisted delivery by forceps or vacuum in 19 (2%) and 44 (4.6%) patients, respectively. Of 926 intrapartum obstetric complications identified in 604 obstetric deliveries, 615 complications (66.4%) in 418 deliveries were managed exclusively by family physicians consistent with privilege delineation, comanagement occurred in 56 patients with 92 complications (9.9%), and care was transferred in 130 patients with 219 complications (23.7%). Conclusion A structured method of obstetric privilege delineation for family medicine faculty members and associated guidelines for family physician–obstetrician interactions has led to a successful family medicine obstetric service at a research-intensive, tertiary-care medical center, with a high concordance between privilege delineation and actual care delivered. This success has resulted in incremental clinical and educational collaborations that have improved the quality of women's health care and education. Family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology can successfully collaborate in the care of obstetric patients through a structured approach to privilege delineation, clinical protocols, and educational programs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
