Across the country, hospitals with lower birth volumes face a quiet but accelerating crisis. OB/GYN recruitment pipelines are thinning. Experienced clinicians are consolidating in larger metros. And for the communities that depend on these hospitals, the result is the same: fewer options, longer drives, and growing risk for expectant mothers who deserve better.
It is a challenge that defies simple fixes. Staffing a 24/7 obstetrics program is operationally demanding regardless of volume, and for hospitals delivering 500 or fewer babies a year, the economics of maintaining that coverage can be difficult to sustain. Many hospital leaders find themselves caught between a commitment to maternal care and the practical realities of recruitment, retention, and financial performance.
This is the problem OBHG’s integrated OB coverage models were built to solve.
A dedicated OB/GYN solution for a growing need
OBHG has long been recognized as the nation’s largest dedicated OB/GYN hospitalist provider. Our integrated OB coverage models extend that expertise into clinic and call coverage for hospitals where traditional recruitment alone is not enough. The program currently supports more than 41 hospitals across 26 states, providing the clinical staffing, operational structure, and partnership support that allow these facilities to sustain and strengthen their OB programs rather than scale them back.
For hospital leaders, the value proposition is straightforward: reliable OB coverage delivered through a partner that understands the clinical, operational, and financial dynamics of women’s services. No short-term locum patches. No indefinite recruitment cycles. A sustainable model built around long-term performance and partnership.
New leadership to match the moment
As demand for these programs grows, OBHG is making a significant investment in the leadership and infrastructure behind them. Caroline Burris has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, Integrated Maternal Services, bringing more than 15 years of healthcare executive leadership to the role.
Caroline’s background speaks directly to the challenges hospital partners face. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Parkridge East Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare, where she led strategic growth, operational performance, and women’s services expansion. Before that, she held COO roles at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, building a track record of service line development and physician partnership.
In her new role, Caroline will lead the strategic evolution, client performance, and growth of OBHG’s integrated OB coverage models, working directly with hospital partners to deliver measurable outcomes and long-term value.
“Too many communities are at risk of losing access to obstetric care—not because hospital leaders lack commitment, but because today’s staffing challenges have made it increasingly difficult to sustain these programs on their own,” said Caroline Burris. “I joined Ob Hospitalist Group because I want to be part of the team and solution that helps hospitals keep obstetrical services in the community they serve. I’m excited to expand and partner with more health systems to build a relationship that preserves access to safe and high-quality care close to home.”
The path forward
The maternal access gap is not closing on its own. Hospital leaders navigating these pressures need partners who bring both clinical depth and operational commitment.
OBHG’s continued investment in integrated OB coverage models, including the leadership to drive them forward, reflects a belief that no community should have to lose access to quality OB care.
Learn more about OBHG’s OB access programs →