The emergence of COVID-19 has played a significant role in the health of American women, and also the OBGYN specialty as a whole. In this article, we are going to dive deep into industry trends and statistics with regards to the movement of OBGYNs and how COVID-19 has affected their practice and patients.
OBGYNs Moving Toward Laborists
Roles for laborists are expanding in the field of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), according to a recent report by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The report, “Laborists – A Viable Model of Practice,” states that OB/GYN laborists have become a part of the labor and delivery landscape in the US.
According to ACOG, there is a growing need for laborist programs due to:
- increased complexity of pregnancies
- increased likelihood that deliveries will occur during off-hours and on weekends
- limited numbers of OB/GYNs available to perform deliveries
- a shortage of OB/GYNs
These are some trends observed by ACOG in their survey:
The number of physician respondents providing full-time or part-time laborist services increased from 18.2 percent in 2008 to 27.9 percent in 2016.
Nearly half (45.3 percent) of physician respondents indicated they were interested in starting or joining a laborist program at their practice site if one did not already exist.
COVID-19 and Pregnancy Issues
COVID-19 has affected many aspects of life for pregnant women. Over the past two years, pregnant women have had to adjust to their new normal during this pandemic.
Here are some industry trends and the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy:
Increased risk of preterm birth: Pregnant women with COVID-19 are at an increased risk of preterm birth compared to women without COVID-19.
Higher rate of stillbirths: A higher rate of stillbirths has been reported among pregnant women with COVID-19 compared to pregnant women without COVID-19.
Higher risk of severe illness: Pregnant women with COVID-19 might be at an increased risk of severe illness, compared to nonpregnant women with COVID-19. Severe illness with COVID-19 is defined as illness that requires hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), or mechanical ventilation (breathing machine), or that results in death.
Preeclampsia in early pregnancy: A higher rate of preeclampsia has been reported among pregnant people with COVID-19 in early pregnancy, compared to pregnant people without COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Postpartum
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the healthcare industry — and OBGYN specialists in particular — on its head. From both a clinical and patient experience perspective, many doctors have had to adapt quickly to new challenges.
Although the pandemic may have thrown a wrench into many medical practices’ plans, it has also taught us valuable lessons that will certainly inform the future of OBGYNs.
The pandemic has created an opportunity for doctors to be more proactive in treating postpartum depression. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University found that women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were six times more likely to experience postpartum depression than their peers who delivered babies in the same period the previous year. With so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, mental health professionals are encouraging OBGYNs to screen patients for depression and anxiety during routine check-ups and follow-up visits.
This trend demonstrates the need for healthcare professionals to prioritize patient needs by looking beyond just physical symptoms. By helping patients identify common mental health concerns like loneliness, loss, and separation from loved ones, OBGYNs can help prevent long-term mental health issues from going untreated.
COVID-19 and Fertility
The OBGYN industry is one of the most important industries in the world. Maintaining healthy pregnancies, protecting pregnancies, and delivering babies are all crucial to the survival of human beings. Trends in this industry include rising rates of infertility, increasing maternal mortality rates, and COVID-19 concerns.
Infertility is an important issue in the OBGYN sector because it represents one of the biggest roadblocks to having children. It is estimated that 1 in 8 couples will have trouble conceiving a child. This number is expected to increase as the years go by due to delayed childbearing and other factors.
Maternal mortality rate (MMR) has increased substantially in recent years within the United States, especially when compared with other developed countries. One study found that about 60% of these deaths were preventable, suggesting that better communication and education would go a long way toward preventing these deaths.
COVID-19 has introduced new complications for pregnant women, doctors treating pregnant women, and neonatal infants who contract the virus from their mothers. Pregnant women are more likely than other patients to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. Moreover, there is not enough data yet to know what long-term effects the virus may have on pregnant women or their children.
2021 OBGYN Compensation
According to the Medscape 2021 OBGYN Compensation Report, data gathered from OBGYN physicians mirrored that of physicians in other specialties with 45% percent of respondents reporting a decline in compensation, however overall income varied little from 2019 and 2020.
To conclude that OBGYN professionals have not been immune to the effects of COVID-19, but it has definitely had a negative impact on the industry trends and with many women citing fear of the virus as their reason for avoiding OBGYN care.
RM Medical Search has partnered with dozens of OBGYN practices over the last two decades to help find and place top tier physicians. If you are in search of a laborist or OBGYN position please see our current open positions or contact us today.