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National Survey on Hospital-Based Privileges in Family Practice Obstetrics
William C. Wadland, MD, MS;
Anna F. Havron, MA;
David Garr, MD;
Ronald Schneeweiss, MD;
Mindy Smith, MD, MS
Arch Fam Med. 1994;3(9):793-800.
Abstract
Purposes
To document the content and level of obstetrical hospital-based privileges for members of the American Academy of Family Physicians and to describe variations between regions, rural vs urban practices, and various physician characteristics.
Methods
About 12% of the active members of the American Academy of Family Physicians listed as offering obstetrical care by the Academy as of March 1991 were randomly sampled by mailed questionnaire. Samples were drawn from three national regions. Privileges were grouped by degree of restriction, based on whether consultation or transfer was required.
Results
Of 1464 surveys mailed, 1026 physicians (70%) responded. Only 740 (72%) stated that they still practiced obstetrics. Privileges ranged from least restricted (100% provided vaginal vertex delivery, with no consultation required) to most restricted (79% provided amniocentesis, with consultation or transfer required). A surprisingly large proportion of physicians reported having fewer routine and more advanced privileges without consultations being required, such as ultrasonography (53%), vaginal breech delivery (41%), and cesarean section (25%). Physicians having more advanced privileges tended to be located in the West or mountain-plains region; be trained in the Midwest, mountain-plains region, or the West; work in middle-sized, nonteaching hospitals in more rural counties; have completed advanced obstetrical training ( 6 months); and deliver more than 40 infants per year.
Conclusions
Overall, a considerable number of hospitalbased obstetrical privileges are granted to family physicians. No uniformity in privileges prevails, owing to significant regional and practice variations. Teaching hospitals reportedly restrict obstetrical care by family physicians more than other hospitals. The variations in restrictions could not be explained by degree of training.
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Family Practice, Michigan State University, East Lansing (Dr Wadland); Kanakanak Hospital, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, Dillingham, Alaska (Ms Havron); the Department of Family Practice, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Dr Garr); the Department of Family Practice, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Schneeweiss); and the Department of Family Practice, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr Smith).
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Deliveries by Family Physicians in Connecticut: Results of a Practice-Based Research Network
Sinusas
Arch Fam Med 2000;9:434-438.
ABSTRACT
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