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. 2022 Jun;49(2):220-232.
doi: 10.1111/birt.12591. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

The impact of family physicians in rural maternity care

Mark Deutchman  1 , Francesca Macaluso  2 , Emily Bray  3 , David Evans  4 , James Boulger  5 , Kathleen Quinn  6 , Carrie Pierce  7   8 , Emily Onello  5 , Jana Porter  6 , Wendy Warren  7   8 , Jay S Erickson  4   9 , Patrick Bright  5 , Philip Maness  3 , Shanon Luke  6 , Katherine A James  2
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The impact of family physicians in rural maternity care

Mark Deutchman et al. Birth. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Reduced access to maternity care in rural areas of the United States presents a significant burden to pregnant persons and infants. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of family physicians (FPs) on access to maternity care in rural United States hospitals, especially where other providers may not be available.

Methods: We administered a survey to 216 rural hospitals in 10 US states inquiring about the number of babies delivered from 2013 to 2017, the types of delivering physicians, and the maternity services offered. We calculated the percentage of rural hospitals in our sample where FPs performed vaginal deliveries, cesareans, and vaginal births after cesarean (VBACs), and the percentage of all babies delivered by FPs. We estimated the distance patients would have to travel for care if FPs were not providing care locally.

Results: The final study population consisted of 185 rural hospitals. FPs delivered babies in 67% of these hospitals and were the only physicians who delivered babies in 27% of these hospitals. FPs provided VBAC at 18% and cesarean birth services at 46% of the rural hospitals, but with wide geographic differences. Many patients would have to drive an average of 86 miles round-trip to access care if those FPs were to stop delivering.

Conclusions: Family physicians are essential providers of maternity care in the rural United States. Family Medicine residency programs should ensure that trainees who intend to practice in rural locations have adequate maternity care training to maintain and expand access to maternity care for rural patients and their families.

Keywords: family physicians; health care access; maternity care; rural health care.

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References

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