Obstetric Hospitalist Program
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center was the first hospital in Boise to offer an OB Hospitalist Program. This program provides expert obstetric care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for patients at our Boise Family Maternity Center.
OB Hospitalists are board-certified obstetricians (OB doctors) who work only in the hospital. Their role is to help provide safe, high-quality care for pregnant patients and support families during labor, delivery, and pregnancy-related emergencies.
What Is an OB Hospitalist?
An OB Hospitalist is a doctor who specializes in caring for pregnant patients while they are in the hospital. Unlike other OB/GYNs, they do not see patients in a private clinic. Instead, they are available in the hospital at all times to provide immediate care when needed.
How OB Hospitalists Help Patients
An OB Hospitalist may:
- Care for patients who are hospitalized during pregnancy
- Help during labor and delivery if your regular provider is unavailable
- Assist with vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections (C-sections)
- Evaluate pregnant patients when they arrive at Labor & Delivery
- Consult on pregnancy-related concerns in the Emergency Department or other hospital units
- Provide care for high-risk pregnancy patients
- Help manage emergencies involving mothers and babies
If you are admitted to the hospital during your pregnancy, labor, or delivery, you may receive care from one or more OB Hospitalists.
Who Can Receive Care from an OB Hospitalist?
Any pregnant patient receiving care at the Family Maternity Center can benefit from OB Hospitalist services.
Your doctor or midwife may ask an OB Hospitalist to be involved in your care if:
- You have a medical emergency
- Your provider is temporarily unavailable
- You need specialized hospital-based care
- Additional support is needed during labor or delivery
What Do OB Hospitalists Do?
OB Hospitalists work closely with doctors, midwives, nurses, and specialists to provide safe and coordinated care. Their responsibilities include:
- Caring for pregnant patients who are hospitalized
- Evaluating patients when they arrive in Labor & Delivery
- Monitoring labor and fetal well-being
- Performing procedures such as ultrasounds and placing internal monitors when needed
- Assisting with surgeries, including C-sections
- Supporting Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists who care for high-risk pregnancies
- Leading emergency response teams for obstetric emergencies
- Helping improve patient safety and quality of care throughout the hospital
How Are OB Hospitalists Different from Other OB/GYNs?
OB Hospitalists differ from traditional OB/GYN providers in several ways:
- They work only in the hospital and do not have private practice.
- They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- They specialize in responding to pregnancy and delivery emergencies.
- They provide backup support for doctors, midwives, and nurses.
- They help care for high-risk pregnancy patients and emergency transfers.
- They focus on patient safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based care
Supporting Patients and Care Teams
OB Hospitalists also serve as experienced mentors and resources for nurses, midwives, medical residents, and students. By working closely with the entire maternity team, they help ensure patients receive timely, coordinated, and high-quality care.
At Saint Alphonsus, the OB Hospitalist Program provides around-the-clock expert support to help keep mothers and babies safe throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery.