Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are vital members of any developed healthcare community; they specialize in women’s reproductive health and maternal care, including delivering babies and post-delivery care and observation. However, as with many specialized medical practitioners, there are some areas of the country that lack a sufficient number of OB/GYNs to provide the level and amount of care necessary for patients.
This is where locum tenens OB/GYNs come in. By undertaking the responsibility of traveling practitioner, a locum tenens OB/GYN may work in Maryland one year and then California the next, going where opportunity and necessity arise. Locum tenens OB/GYNs have job security while also being everyday heroes, going wherever they are needed to care for women and mothers.
A Brief History of The Evolution of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The growth and development of obstetrics and gynecology as its own specialization can be traced back to historical midwives and traditional healers. These traveling professionals were frequently relied on as the primary provider of women’s healthcare during birthing. They moved from town to town and village to village providing their services wherever they were needed.
With advancements in medical science, the field of OB/GYN emerged as a specialized medical discipline. By 1876, the American Gynecological Society was formed and similar organizations played a major role in shaping the future of the field. Over time, medical knowledge expanded and medical schools began providing specialized training programs to teach OB/GYNs about reproductive anatomy, physiology, prenatal care, and all the other facets needed to serve patients in this area. Residency programs made specifically for OB/GYNs were added and these programs enables physicians to gain hands-on experience under the guidance of experienced practitioners.
The Major Responsibilities of OB/GYNs
Today, OB/GYNs are licensed surgeons and medical practitioners, and being a locum tenens OB/GYN does not change that. They possess the necessary skills to diagnose, manage, and treat various conditions affecting the female reproductive system. In the field of obstetrics, their responsibilities include providing comprehensive care to pregnant mothers, including prenatal visits, monitoring fetal development, and ensuring a safe delivery. OB/GYN surgeons ensure women deliver babies safely and provide the care necessary for them to recover afterward.
Gynecology focuses on diagnosing and treating disorders of the female reproductive organs. As gynecologists, these providers often perform examinations such as Pap smears and pelvic exams to detect any abnormalities and screen for gynecological conditions such as cervical cancer. They can also address common concerns that new mothers may have such as menstrual irregularities, pelivc pain and menopsusal symptoms. As surgeons, their expertise even extends to providing surgical procedures ranging from laparoscopy to more complex proecudures such as hysterectomies or removal of ovarian masses.
Locum Tenens OB/GYNs
As explained earlier, locum tenens practitioners travel across the country to fill gaps in healthcare. In fact, locum tenens is Latin for “to hold the place of, to substitute for.” Locum tenens OB/GYNs are crucial to the health of women across the country, especially in underserved communities.
Locum tenens OB/GYNs work every day to level health disparities between different regions, counties, and more. For example, the United States has an exceptionally high maternal mortality rate among its peer countries, sitting at 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births. Black women face three times the mortality rate as white women and the mortality rate is rising. Locum tenens OB/GYNs are on the front lines of battling these inequities and can skillfully manage complications that may arise during pregnancy and childbirth, such as high-risk pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, or fetal abnormalities.
Critical Access Hospitals
Another key front in the battle against health inequity in America is critical access hospitals, which are hospitals that specifically serve underserved and disadvantaged rural communities. Specialists are always in high demand at critical access hospitals, meaning locum tenens specialists—such as locum tenens OB/GYNs—are constantly rotating between these rural healthcare facilities.
Future Physician Shortage
Besides these inequities already present in the healthcare system, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a massive increase in physician shortfalls in America. They predict a shortfall between 54,000 and 139,000 by 2033.
As permanent physicians continue to decrease, locum tenens practitioners will be in increasing demand—which means greater opportunities, better pay, and more varied options.
Job Benefits
Locum tenens OB/GYNs also get different benefits than those in permanent positions—because they are in high demand and go where there is the most need, they often receive better pay than permanent positions would. They also control their schedule and where they work and don’t have to get looped up in hospital bureaucracy; instead, they can focus on upholding their Hippocratic Oath and caring for their patients.
If you’re an OB/GYN interested in becoming a locum tenens provider, reach out to us at Barton Associates. We help connect locum tenens OB/GYNs with the communities that need them.
