After decades as an OB/GYN, Teresa Marlino, MD, still loves her job. This wasn’t always the case.
Ten years prior, at age 50, Dr. Marlino was considering early OB/GYN retirement. She faced a common dilemma among her peers in private practice obstetrics as she tried to determine what to do next. She loved taking care of women, connecting to patients and delivering babies. However, she says, “I was pulled in so many directions between labor and delivery, the office, phone calls and the emergency room that I was utterly exhausted.”
It was then that she tested out working as a part-time gynecology hospitalist. After a year, she left private practice to join Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) full-time. She went from working over 100 hours weekly in private practice to now working 24-48 hour weeks.
Dr. Marlino transitioned from a burnt-out physician considering early OB/GYN retirement to one who is extending her career another decade or more. “What I found in this transition was a way to prolong my career and feel like I’m contributing quite a bit,” she says.
Dr. Marlino, a market medical director for Ob Hospitalist Group and a practicing OB/GYN hospitalist, hopes to work full-time at OBHG until at least age 65 and then work part-time until age 70. “That is how much less stressed I feel between being an OB hospitalist and my days in private practice,” she says.
Why consider becoming an OB hospitalist?
While rewarding, obstetrics is a particularly demanding field of medicine. One of the primary reasons OB/GYNs retire early is the intense and unpredictable schedule that comes with the job. Balancing office appointments, surgeries and on-call responsibilities often leads to chronic exhaustion. Many physicians reach a point of burnout where they can no longer continue practicing at the same pace of long days, seven days a week.
“You’ve invested your life, your heart and soul and your money into it, and there’s a stopping point,” says John Perch, MD, medical director of operations at OBHG.
The OB hospitalist model doesn’t include outpatient care, allowing for a more predictable schedule. Clinicians with Ob Hospitalist Group typically request the days they work each month. This structure provides the flexibility and balance that many physicians crave, reducing the stress that often leads to burnout.
Dr. Perch sees firsthand how working as an OB hospitalist extends the careers of talented physicians. “The hospitalist lifestyle is a great retirement plan. As I age, I plan to slowly reduce shifts until I sail away into the sunset,” he says.
Reduced administrative burden helps OB/GYNs avoid early retirement
The administrative demands of running a private practice or working in a clinic add to the burden of long workdays and unpredictable schedules. From managing electronic health records (EHRs) to ordering labs and answering patient questions, administrative tasks are a significant challenge for physicians today.
OB hospitalists, however, are primarily focused on patient care within the hospital, with much of the administrative burden handled by hospital staff. This shift allows physicians to spend more time doing what they love — caring for patients — without the added strain of administrative tasks.
The long-term benefits of transitioning to a hospitalist role
For OB/GYNs nearing the end of their career, transitioning to a hospitalist role can provide a sustainable way to continue practicing medicine without the physical and emotional toll often accompanying traditional practice. By focusing on inpatient care, OB hospitalists can maintain clinical skills, enjoy a more balanced lifestyle and ultimately extend their careers beyond the typical retirement age.
Neely Dean, MD, market medical director and OB hospitalist, sees many physicians wanting to work less as they age and those who seek more family-friendly hours early in their careers. “They transition from private practice to being a hospitalist to ease into retirement, and on the flip side, we see some become hospitalists earlier in their careers to have a better balance and extend their careers because they avoid the burnout of private practice.”
OB hospitalist schedules leave more time for personal life
Working five 24-hour shifts or more a month is considered a full-time physician for OBHG. Some physicians pick up extra shifts to work seven or eight days a month. This starkly contrasts OB/GYNs working up to 120-hour weeks in private practice. “Those other 21 days are your days to schedule your exercise class, your medical appointments and all the things you put off, year after year,” says Dr. Marlino.
In many cases, finding this measure of work-life balance is enough for experienced OB/GYNs to continue patient care while still pursuing personal goals and interests.
Extending OB/GYN careers improves women’s health outcomes
The healthcare field, in general, is facing a clinician shortage crisis. The shortage is particularly acute in obstetrics and gynecology, where physicians face long, unpredictable hours, increasing legal risks and legislation challenging best practices for patient care. OB/GYNs who retire early exacerbate the problem.
OB/GYN attrition has a direct impact on women’s health. Rural counties and even some metropolitan areas in the United States are closing maternity wards at alarming rates. According to a March of Dimes 2022 report, over one-third of counties in the U.S. are considered maternity care deserts.
Extending the careers of experienced OB/GYNs helps slow the declining number of physicians. “As an OB hospitalist, physicians who are burnt out from working long hours in private practice can still contribute to the field in a meaningful way that’s not overwhelming,” says Joanne Williamson, MD, an OBHG site director.
Having experienced physicians on-site at hospitals nationwide is critical to nurturing the next generation of physicians, advanced practice providers and allied health professionals. “This keeps us from losing the depth of experience of those who become burned out and want to retire early,” says Dr. Williamson.
Avoid early OB/GYN retirement by joining the OBHG team
By becoming an OB hospitalist, you can continue to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives while also taking care of your own well-being — an essential balance for any physician looking to extend their career and avoid early retirement.
OBHG offers exciting career opportunities across the nation. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a recent graduate, there’s a place for you in our dedicated team. Read what our clinicians have to say and check out our most common FAQs.
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