At this year’s Becker’s Hospital Review Annual Meeting, healthcare leaders tackled some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today—from workforce shortages to rising costs and the urgent need for sustainable care models.
While there wasn’t a session solely dedicated to obstetrics, OB/GYNs and women’s health professionals contributed meaningful insights throughout the event. Their voices were an important part of several broader discussions that touched on themes highly relevant to maternal care—particularly burnout, healthcare access, and clinical staffing.
These challenges have serious implications for women’s health, especially as OB/GYN shortages grow and labor and delivery units across the country continue to face mounting pressure or closure.
Here are five takeaways from the conference that directly impact the future of women’s health:
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We’re asking clinicians to do more with less—and it’s not sustainable.
The workforce crisis was top of mind across nearly every Becker’s session. As OB/GYNs and nurses leave the field or retire early, hospitals are left trying to maintain safe, 24/7 care with fewer people. This is especially challenging in obstetrics, where there simply isn’t a scalable supply of clinicians to meet patient needs.
Addressing this gap means rethinking how care teams are structured and how hospitals can extend the careers of the OB providers they already have. At Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), we see firsthand how restructuring care teams through dedicated OB hospitalists or blended models can extend the careers of practicing OB/GYNs while protecting patient safety and preserving access.
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Burnout and early exits are preventable, not inevitable.
Physician burnout isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a major threat to clinical continuity. For OB/GYNs, especially those in community practice, the constant demands of night call and hospital interruptions can accelerate exhaustion. Thoughtfully designed labor models can relieve that pressure. Supporting OB/GYNs with in-hospital coverage or flexible care models doesn’t just improve efficiency—it helps providers stay in the profession longer, with their well-being intact.
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New technology should be a reinforcement, not a replacement.
While some sessions at Becker’s highlighted AI, automation, and digital care tools, the prevailing view was that technology should augment, not replace, the human element of care. Whether it’s AI-driven documentation, telehealth consults, or smarter analytics, the right tools help reduce administrative burden, sharpen clinical decision-making, and free up providers to focus on patients. In maternal care, where timing and coordination are critical, this kind of support can make a measurable difference.
We’re already seeing value in AI-powered documentation and virtual consultation platforms that reduce administrative burden and enable faster decision-making—tools OBHG is actively exploring and integrating to strengthen maternal care delivery.
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Younger clinicians are redefining what a “sustainable” career looks like.
One thing was clear at Becker’s: the next generation of OB/GYNs is bringing different expectations. Gone are the days when a career in obstetrics meant being constantly on call, missing family milestones, and accepting burnout as part of the job. Today’s early-career physicians are asking for flexibility, balance, and collaborative environments where they can thrive both professionally and personally.
Younger physicians are also seeking roles where they feel empowered to contribute meaningfully, not just in patient care, but in shaping the systems and decisions that affect how that care is delivered. If hospitals want to attract and retain this workforce, they’ll need to offer care models that prioritize clinician quality of life and invite their voices into the conversation.
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Women’s health deserves a permanent seat at the table.
In 2024 alone, more than 30,000 women traveled from maternity care deserts to hospitals staffed by OBHG clinicians—a clear reminder of both the growing access gap and the potential of scalable, responsive solutions. It was encouraging to see OB/GYNs and women’s health professionals actively participating in conversations throughout the conference. Their insights and experiences are essential because the path forward will require continued collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all patients.
At OBHG, we’re proud to lead in this space, but we know lasting change happens when hospitals, clinicians, and partners work together. As the healthcare landscape continues to shift, maternal care must remain part of the strategic conversation. The challenges are urgent, but so are the opportunities. By staying focused, working together, and embracing smart, sustainable solutions, we can build a stronger future for women’s health—one community at a time.