Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties

Objective: About one-half of all U.S. counties lack obstetrician?gynecologist (ob-gyns) physicians especially in rural areas. The objective of this study was to use experience in our state to identify demographic and practice characteristics distinguishing ob-gyns in general practice (general ob-gyn...

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Main Authors: William F. Rayburn, Trevor E. Quiner, Jacquelyn A. Blackstone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2020-10-01
Series:Women's Health Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2020.0070
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author William F. Rayburn
Trevor E. Quiner
Jacquelyn A. Blackstone
author_facet William F. Rayburn
Trevor E. Quiner
Jacquelyn A. Blackstone
author_sort William F. Rayburn
collection DOAJ
description Objective: About one-half of all U.S. counties lack obstetrician?gynecologist (ob-gyns) physicians especially in rural areas. The objective of this study was to use experience in our state to identify demographic and practice characteristics distinguishing ob-gyns in general practice (general ob-gyns) in rural and metropolitan settings. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study used self-reported responses by physicians to a mandated survey about demographics and practice patterns at the time of New Mexico medical relicensing. Included in the study were all general ob-gyns in 2016 and 2017. Information about subspecialist ob-gyns and residents who graduated that year was obtained from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education from 2016 to 2019. Results: Nearly 1 in 3 (84 of 273, 30.8%) general ob-gyns practiced in a rural county. Those in rural settings tended to be older (p?=?0.02) and male (p?=?0.04). Most had practices in both obstetrics and gynecology. Compared with those in metropolitan counties, general ob-gyns in rural counties practiced in smaller groups (p?=?0.0003) and worked 40 hours or more weekly (p?=?0.0003). All subspecialists practiced in the most populous metropolitan county. No recent residency graduate practiced rurally in New Mexico. Conclusions: General ob-gyns in New Mexico's rural counties practiced in smaller groups and for longer work hours. Rural ob-gyns tended to be older and male.
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spelling doaj.art-fa8f197e569d402391cb347c3b3199362024-01-26T05:34:31ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442020-10-011147447910.1089/WHR.2020.0070Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan CountiesWilliam F. RayburnTrevor E. QuinerJacquelyn A. BlackstoneObjective: About one-half of all U.S. counties lack obstetrician?gynecologist (ob-gyns) physicians especially in rural areas. The objective of this study was to use experience in our state to identify demographic and practice characteristics distinguishing ob-gyns in general practice (general ob-gyns) in rural and metropolitan settings. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study used self-reported responses by physicians to a mandated survey about demographics and practice patterns at the time of New Mexico medical relicensing. Included in the study were all general ob-gyns in 2016 and 2017. Information about subspecialist ob-gyns and residents who graduated that year was obtained from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education from 2016 to 2019. Results: Nearly 1 in 3 (84 of 273, 30.8%) general ob-gyns practiced in a rural county. Those in rural settings tended to be older (p?=?0.02) and male (p?=?0.04). Most had practices in both obstetrics and gynecology. Compared with those in metropolitan counties, general ob-gyns in rural counties practiced in smaller groups (p?=?0.0003) and worked 40 hours or more weekly (p?=?0.0003). All subspecialists practiced in the most populous metropolitan county. No recent residency graduate practiced rurally in New Mexico. Conclusions: General ob-gyns in New Mexico's rural counties practiced in smaller groups and for longer work hours. Rural ob-gyns tended to be older and male.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2020.0070gynecologyobstetricsphysicians'practice patternsrural healthsurveys
spellingShingle William F. Rayburn
Trevor E. Quiner
Jacquelyn A. Blackstone
Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
Women's Health Reports
gynecology
obstetrics
physicians'
practice patterns
rural health
surveys
title Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
title_full Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
title_fullStr Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
title_full_unstemmed Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
title_short Obstetrician?Gynecologists in General Practice in New Mexico: A Comparison Between Rural and Metropolitan Counties
title_sort obstetrician gynecologists in general practice in new mexico a comparison between rural and metropolitan counties
topic gynecology
obstetrics
physicians'
practice patterns
rural health
surveys
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2020.0070
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AT trevorequiner obstetriciangynecologistsingeneralpracticeinnewmexicoacomparisonbetweenruralandmetropolitancounties
AT jacquelynablackstone obstetriciangynecologistsingeneralpracticeinnewmexicoacomparisonbetweenruralandmetropolitancounties