Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) honors the incredible work of our clinicians in advancing maternal health and transforming care. Each month, we’re spotlighting stories that showcase our clinicians’ expertise and impact, highlighting how they set the standard, drive innovation and redefine care.
Expert voices in maternal care and safety
In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, OB/GYNs are increasingly exploring innovative career paths to provide better care for mothers and babies while finding renewed passion for their work. At OBHG, dedicated physicians like Dr. Beth Rutherford are redefining what it means to deliver exceptional maternal healthcare.
Dr. Rutherford, who practices at Northwest Health Porter Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana, shares her inspiring journey from private practice to becoming a site director and market medical director with OBHG. After 25 years in private practice, she found a new calling in hospital-based care—one that has allowed her to focus on safety, education, and collaboration. Most notably, this career shift has given her the time and flexibility to take on the crucial role of faculty director for family practice residents.
Prioritizing patient safety and best practices
OB/GYNs with OBHG pride themselves on being “maternal safety champions” in the labor and delivery unit, always following the latest guidelines and best practices. Dr. Rutherford emphasizes the importance of being the most engaged OB/GYN in the hospital, fostering relationships with nursing directors and clinical leaders to continually assess and upgrade perinatal care policies.
This collaborative approach ensures that maternal health care teams are aligned, proactive, and delivering the highest standard of care. “It’s just really allowed a nice focus on that, which I’ve enjoyed,” she shares. Additionally, having the time to dedicate herself to education has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of her transition.
A culture of teaching and lifelong learning
One of the standout aspects of OBHG is the emphasis on education. Dr. Rutherford highlights how being a hospitalist provides countless “tiny moments of education” with learners—nursing students, medical students, and residents alike.
At her hospital, she stepped up to be the OB/GYN faculty director, a role she has embraced wholeheartedly. “Teaching keeps you fresh,” she notes, adding that it’s incredibly fulfilling to inspire future physicians to consider OB/GYN as a specialty, particularly in the face of the looming OB/GYN shortage. Without the flexibility and reduced clinical demands provided by OBHG, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to lead this important educational initiative.
“One colleague at OBHG told me recently, and this really stuck with me, the site director of a program should be the most engaged OB/GYN at the hospital.”
– Dr. Beth Rutherford, OBHG Market Medical Director
Enhanced work-life balance and personal fulfillment
Transitioning to a hospitalist role often brings concerns about sacrificing personal relationships with patients or losing the variety of office practice. However, Dr. Rutherford dispels these worries, emphasizing that hospitalists still have meaningful patient interactions, particularly with those requiring prolonged hospital stays.
Importantly, the shift to hospital-based care has allowed her to rediscover balance and joy in her career. “You can’t ignore that moving to a hospitalist position does change or shift your work-life balance for the better,” she says. With more control over her schedule, she’s even taken up piano lessons in her 50s. More significantly, it has allowed her the time and energy to dedicate herself fully to training the next generation of physicians.
Flexibility and career growth
One of the most appealing aspects of OBHG is the flexibility it offers. Physicians can tailor their careers to fit their interests and life goals, whether that’s focusing solely on hospitalist work, maintaining a part-time clinic, or taking on administrative roles.
“One could choose any number of pathways and still feel like they have a very fulfilling and rewarding career.” Her own experience has been enriched by participating in committees, preparing lectures for residents, and most notably, leading the education of family practice residents—a role she could never have taken on in the demands of private practice.
A supportive and collaborative environment
Joining OBHG doesn’t mean becoming “just a drop in the bucket,” as Dr. Rutherford initially feared. Instead, she found a supportive and collaborative group where colleagues are easy to reach and eager to help.
“It’s really felt like I’ve joined a strongly collaborative and terrific group of people,” she reflects. This sense of community and shared mission makes a meaningful difference in her work.
Advice for physicians considering OBHG
For those contemplating a shift to becoming a hospitalist, Dr. Rutherford offers advice: “Don’t have any hesitance to join OBHG. It’s a great organization. Just dip your toe in the water—sign up for one or two shifts per block and see what you think.”
The flexibility, support, and opportunities for growth make OBHG a game-changing career move for many OB/GYNs seeking renewed passion and purpose in their work. And as Dr. Rutherford has proven, it also opens doors to new leadership roles, like directing the education of future physicians.
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OBHG is setting a new standard in maternal healthcare by fostering a culture of safety, education, and collaboration. Physicians like Dr. Rutherford exemplify how hospitalists can lead the way in improving outcomes for mothers and babies while finding personal and professional fulfillment.