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Re: Fewer Medical Students Choosing To Specialize in Obstetrics; Quality Concerns Raised From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com) Fri Jul 23 06:43:19 2004 Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ] Next message: Richard Chudacoff, MD: "Chlamydia in pregnancy" Previous message: Braun, R. Daniel: "Re: Inverted uterus" In reply to: RModugno@aol.com: "Fewer Medical Students Choosing To Specialize in Obstetrics; Quality Concerns Raised" And here's the other side of the coin ... Liability survey: OB/Gyns quitting obstetrics July 21, 2004 According to a national survey released July 16 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), one in seven ACOG fellows has stopped delivering babies because of the fear of being sued. For the third year in a row, the number of medical students entering the OB/Gyn specialty has declined – in 2004, only 65 percent of the OB/Gyn residency slots were filled by U.S. medical school seniors, compared with 86 percent a decade earlier. The survey also found that OB/Gyns have an average of 2.6 claims field against them during their career and that one in two ACOG fellows has been involved in a claim in the last four years. Many respondents reported having to make changes in their practices to combat the risk of liability claims or of being sued. Fully 22 percent decreased practicing high-risk obstetric care, 9.2 percent decreased their number of deliveries and 14 percent stopped practicing obstetrics altogether. Citing liability insurance costs and availability as reasons, 25.2 percent decreased the amount of high-risk obstetric care, 12.2 percent decreased the number of deliveries and 9.2 percent said they no longer practice obstetrics. The survey also found that 49.5 percent of all claims against OB/Gyns are dropped by plaintiffs' attorneys, dismissed or settled without payment – and that OB/Gyns win eight out of every 10 cases that go to court. The ACOG survey covered the years 1999-2003 and was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Its results are consistent with an AMA Member Connect survey conducted in March 2004, which showed that 29 percent of AMA members in high-risk specialties have stopped providing certain services in the past year due to medical liability pressures. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/9255-8713.html art At Wed, 21 Jul 2004, RModugno@aol.com wrote: > >.. > >Fewer Medical Students Choosing To Specialize in Obstetrics; Quality Concerns >Raised > >Access this story and related links online: >ttp://http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=24688 > >The Baltimore Sun on Sunday examined the concern of medical experts about the >shrinking number of students choosing to train in obstetrics and gynecology, >and the possibility of "an ultimate decline in the quality of doctors competing >for training slots in obstetrics." According to the Sun, the number of >graduates of U.S. medical schools who enter OB/GYN training programs has >dropped 23% since 1996 -- from 968 to 743. This year, only 66% of slots in >OB/GYN residency programs nationwide were filled by U.S. medical school >graduates, down from 86% eight years earlier. Dr. Jessica Bienstock, head of >the OB/GYN training program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said, "Nationally, we >certainly are concerned about quality," adding, "If we're seeing fewer people >going into the specialty, then we do need to start worrying about the quality >of people who do go into the field." Experts say that the growing malpractice >crisis is a large factor in the decline in interest in the specialty, according >to the Sun. "People don't want to be in the delivery room -- that's where the >malpractice is," Dr. Jack Gladstein, associate dean of students at the >University of Maryland School of Medicine, said. Malpractice insurance premiums >for OB/GYNs are higher than for any other specialty at more than $100,000 per >year in many areas, according to the Sun. Other factors also have influenced >the decline, including lifestyle and gender concerns. Many medical students >choosing obstetrics and gynecology are women, and males increasingly view the >specialty as "off-limits to their gender," according to the Sun. At the same >time, many patients prefer women doctors. Students also are increasingly >concerned about work-life balance issues and are "less eager to put up with the >demands of a residency that requires sleepless nights on labor and delivery >wards," the Sun reports (Bor, Baltimore Sun, 7/11). -- art fougner, md ich bin ein New Yorker Next message: Richard Chudacoff, MD: "Chlamydia in pregnancy" Previous message: Braun, R. Daniel: "Re: Inverted uterus" In reply to: RModugno@aol.com: "Fewer Medical Students Choosing To Specialize in Obstetrics; Quality Concerns Raised"

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