The eight biggest challenges facing ob/gyns

October 15, 2019

In a recent survey, 134 ob/gyns were asked about what they felt were the biggest challenges facing the specialty.

The 90th annual Medical Economics Physician Report was conducted by Readex Research in November 2018. The survey asked 134 ob/gyns about what they felt were the biggest challenges facing the specialty, but participants were able to select more than one response. Here's what they said.

Burden of paperwork/quality metrics

Of the 134 included ob/gyns, 95 said paperwork is a challenge for the specialty.

Inadequate reimbursement

Inadequate reimbursement was reported as one of the specialty's biggest challenges by 89 of the 134 ob/gyns.

Third-party interference

Sixty-six of 134 ob/gyns reported third-party interference (e.g. prior authorizations, non-formulary prescription approval, etc.) as one of their major challenges.

Electronic health records

More than half of the ob/gyns (84 of 134 participants) included in the survey reported EHRs as a major challenge.

Recruiting young physicians

Just 29 of 134 ob/gyns believe recruiting young physicians is a major challenge.

Growth of convenient care clinics

Thirteen of 134 ob/gyns highlighted the growth of convenient care clinics as a challenge facing the specialty.

Malpractice/tort reform

A little more than a quarter of respondents (35 of 134) felt that malpractice and tort reform are challenges faced by ob/gyns.

Patients getting health care information online

The increasing amount of health care information available online for patients led 16 of 134 ob/gyns to believe this is a major challenge