Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 3, 2020

Protecting moms and babies Our board-certified OB-GYN hospitalist physicians provide expert care and support during a crucial time in a mother’s life. To learn more, visit KH.org/birthing . CARE By Andrea Nagel Kootenai Health recently added another service to its Family Birth Center. The OB-GYN hospitalist program offers in-house OB-GYN care for expectant mothers. This program features four board- certified providers who offer expert OB-GYN consultation, diagnosis, treatment and delivery 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “We’re excited to provide this higher level of care to women in our community,” said Julie Meltzer, M.D., program medical director. “This allows laboring mothers and women needing emergent OB-GYN care faster medical evaluation and care, if needed.” What is anOB-GYN hospitalist? OB-GYN hospitalists are physicians who are specially trained to provide OB-GYN services to expectant mothers and in other cases when an OB-GYN consultation might be 24/7 Access to Obstetric Kootenai Health’s OB-GYN hospitalist program provides support and expertise in all pregnancy and childbirth emergencies needed. Pregnant women who need emergency or unscheduled hospital care will be seen by an OB-GYN hospitalist when a patient’s primary OB-GYN is unavailable or if a patient does not have an OB-GYN. This around-the-clock model provides immediate access to expert care for all pregnancy and childbirth emergencies in the labor and delivery unit and the emergency department. This team will work closely with community providers to ensure seamless care transitions from the hospital to physicians in clinics. “We can step in as the provider for any patient who comes in without an established OB-GYN, or until their provider arrives,” Dr. Meltzer said. “This could mean a simple evaluation of a woman who may be in labor—or taking over or assisting with a high-risk C-section or vaginal birth after cesarean. We are here for any OB-GYN emergencies or hospital care.” Adedicatedemergency department One key component of the OB-GYN hospitalist program is Kootenai’s OB-GYN emergency department. Because hospitalists are always available, these providers are able Julie Meltzer, M.D. 16