If you ask an OB hospitalist to describe their day, the answer will likely be, “it depends!” No two shifts are the same, and that’s what makes the role both exciting and rewarding. From delivering babies to supporting community physicians, an OB hospitalist plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of mothers and their newborns.
But beyond the fast pace of the job, many OB/GYNs grapple with a deeper question:
Can I have a fulfilling career and still be present for my family? At Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) that answer is YES.
Dynamic shifts
Each shift begins with the knowledge that anything can happen. OB hospitalists are responsible for caring for all pregnant women who arrive at the hospital in need of emergent care, no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s monitoring labor, evaluating triage patients, or performing surgeries, the variety of tasks keeps them on their toes.
Collaboration is key
A significant part of the job involves building strong relationships with staff nurses, hospital personnel, and private practice physicians. OB hospitalists provide essential coverage and assistance, ensuring that every patient receives timely and expert care. They also consult with the emergency department when pregnancy-related concerns arise.
Delivering babies and beyond
Of course, delivering babies is a major part of the job, but an OB hospitalist’s role extends far beyond the delivery room. They evaluate and treat postpartum patients, assist with obstetric surgeries, and in some cases, participate in ongoing medical education for residents and students.
Finding work-life balance: Dr. Rula Fuertez’s journey
For many OB/GYNs, the ability to balance a demanding medical career with personal and family life feels out of reach. Dr. Rula Fuertez, an OB hospitalist and Market Medical Director with OBHG, once faced this challenge herself.
Before joining OBHG, Dr. Fuertez worked in a full-scope OB/GYN role, juggling patient appointments, surgeries, and hospital shifts in both New York and California. Despite her passion for women’s healthcare, she struggled with the reality of missing important family moments.
“I’d miss many of my daughters’ daytime programs or classroom volunteer activities,” she recalls. “Attending meant taking a vacation day for a Christmas program held at 8 a.m. or a mother’s brunch held at 1 p.m.”
Her path took a turn when she met a mom who inspired her to join a women-owned OB/GYN private practice with more flexible scheduling. Though private practice offered some relief, it also came with additional responsibilities—everything from managing medical reimbursements to purchasing supplies at Costco.
“When you’re in private practice, you’re essentially an entrepreneur,” she explains. “There are many non-medical responsibilities, from purchasing supplies to handling billing.”
Seeking a better balance, Dr. Fuertez transitioned to OBHG, where she found the structure that allowed her to thrive professionally while prioritizing her family. As an OB hospitalist, she now enjoys the flexibility of creating her own schedule—typically working five to seven, 24-hour shifts per month—with no on-call duty or the burdens of office management.
Read more of Dr. Fuertez’s story here.
Expanding care through Maternal Health Access Solutions (MHAS)
While OB hospitalist roles provide essential inpatient care, OBHG also offers another opportunity to serve women in need: Maternal Health Access Solutions (MHAS).
For hospitals facing staffing shortages, MHAS clinicians step in to ensure that vital women’s health services remain available in their communities. These roles allow OB/GYNs to make a meaningful impact by providing care in hospital clinics, offering on-call OB/GYN hospital coverage, and addressing gaps in maternal health services.
MHAS roles are also designed with flexibility in mind. In these clinical roles, clinicians can work at a hospital clinic, provide on-call hospital coverage and also offer GYN services to women who need care. The schedule is flexible, and stipends are offered for expenses.
For OB/GYNs who feel called to ensure that women receive quality care close to home, MHAS offers a unique and rewarding career path.
A commitment to excellence
Beyond personal balance, OB hospitalists are deeply involved in improving patient safety and advancing best practices. They engage in emergency drills, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary rounds to enhance outcomes for both mothers and babies. Providing education and support to nurses ensures that the entire team is prepared for any situation.
More than a job—a calling
Being an OB hospitalist is more than just a profession; it’s a commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care at a moment’s notice. With every shift presenting new challenges and opportunities, these dedicated professionals embrace the unpredictability, knowing that their work makes a profound difference in the lives of their patients—without sacrificing their own.
For clinicians like Dr. Fuertez, OBHG offers more than just a career in obstetrics—it provides a sustainable path to a fulfilling life, where both patients and families receive the attention they deserve.
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