How OB hospitalists can increase maternal care in multiple settings, with Mark Simon, MD, MMM

Building on his previous insights regarding the 24/7 collaborative role of on-site clinicians,¹ Mark Simon, MD, MMM, Chief Medical Officer, Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), Greenville, South Carolina, discussed how the hospitalist model is evolving to meet national public health needs. For Simon, the success of a hospitalist program is defined by its ability to provide equitable, high-quality care to every patient, regardless of their background or geographic location.

Bridging the outpatient-to-inpatient gap

A primary focus for Simon is addressing the "access issues" that plague many parts of the United States. He highlighted the critical partnerships OBHG maintains with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which often serve as the only source of prenatal care in underserved or rural communities.

“Many times the Federally Qualified Health Clinics struggle to have clinicians, physicians who can provide the deliveries for them,” Simon explained. By establishing a strong partnership, these clinics can continue their essential outpatient work while ensuring a “seamless handoff” to the OB hospitalist team for the actual delivery. This model allows the most vulnerable patients to access high-level care in the inpatient setting that they might otherwise lack. Simon emphasized that OBHG strives to be a flexible partner, recognizing that “delivering care in rural America is different than delivering it in a major metropolitan area”.

Highlights from OBHG Maternal Health Impact Report

The 2025 OBGH Maternal Health Impact Report quantified the public health impact of the OB model, noting a total positive economic and social value of $812.7M between August 2024 and July 2025. This includes delivering $1.46 in measurable benefit for every $1 of revenue generated.²

“What I really want people to take away from the maternal health impact report is that OBHG, we live by our mission,” Simon stated. The data highlights significant clinical gains, such as avoiding 1,608 infant deaths and preventing 500 severe maternal morbidity (SMM) cases. Simon noted that while the individual patient experience is the ultimate measure of success, these large-scale metrics prove that standardized, equitable care has a "real financial impact on the United States healthcare system".

“Our company recognizes that delivering care in rural America is different than delivering it in a major metropolitan area, and we have to be flexible in how we develop that and how we do it,” Simon added. “We strive to accomplish that because we know that all patients in the United States deserve the best possible outcomes.”

References:

1. Fitch J. Mark Simon, MD, MMM, on the OB hospitalist care model. Contemporary OB/GYN. March 27, 206. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/mark-simon-md-mmm-on-the-ob-gyn-hospitalist-care-model
2. 2025 Maternal Health Impact Report. Ob Hospitalist Group. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://obhg.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/OBHospitalistGroupMaternalHealthImpactReport.pdf