Structure and characteristics of family medicine maternity care fellowships. 2014

Lars E Peterson, and Brenna Blackburn, and Robert L Phillips, and James C Puffer
American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY.

OBJECTIVE Fewer family physicians are providing maternity care. Maternity Care Fellowships (MCFs) provide training in advanced obstetrical skills, including cesarean sections. These programs lack official recognition and certification. MCF graduates have been studied, but there are no studies of the fellowships. The objective of this study was to assess the structure and organization of family medicine MCFs. METHODS We identified MCFs from the American Academy of Family Physicians website. Twenty-nine unique and active programs were included in the final sample. We surveyed programs via an anonymous internet methodology. The survey asked about program structure, organization, and educational aspects of the program. RESULTS A total of 18 programs responded, for a 62% response rate. Eighty-eight percent of MCFs were 1 year in length, and the mean number of fellows per year was 1.9. All but one program were associated with a residency training program, and 55.6% were based in community hospitals. All but two programs had a standardized curriculum. Eighty-eight percent of MCFs had obstetricians involved in teaching or clinical supervision. Mean estimated number of deliveries performed by fellows were 80 vaginal and 108 caesarian. Graduates of MCFs were largely able to obtain caesarian privileges after graduation, and many were working in rural and/or underserved areas. Many MCF directors favored formal accreditation and a standardized curriculum across programs. CONCLUSIONS Despite lack of formal accreditation, MCFs have academic affiliations and internally standardized curricula. MCFs provide an obstetric workforce for rural and underserved areas, and formal accreditation may ensure program survival and boost educational standards.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007396 Internship and Residency Programs of EDUCATION, MEDICAL, GRADUATE training to meet the requirements established by accrediting authorities. House Staff,Internship, Dental,Residency, Dental,Residency, Medical,Dental Internship,Dental Internships,Dental Residencies,Dental Residency,Internship,Internship, Medical,Internships, Dental,Medical Residencies,Medical Residency,Residencies, Dental,Residencies, Medical,Residency,Residency and Internship,Internships, Medical,Medical Internship,Medical Internships,Residencies,Staff, House
D008427 Maternal Health Services Organized services to provide health care to expectant and nursing mothers. Health Services, Maternal,Services, Maternal Health,Health Service, Maternal,Maternal Health Service
D009774 Obstetrics A medical-surgical specialty concerned with management and care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.
D005194 Family Practice A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family. Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D005257 Fellowships and Scholarships Stipends or grants-in-aid granted by foundations or institutions to individuals for study. Scholarships,Fellowships,Fellowship,Scholarship,Scholarships and Fellowships
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D036861 Delivery, Obstetric Delivery of the FETUS and PLACENTA under the care of an obstetrician or a health worker. Obstetric deliveries may involve physical, psychological, medical, or surgical interventions. Obstetric Delivery,Deliveries, Obstetric,Obstetric Deliveries

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