Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors

Background The structure of ambulatory care in teaching hospitals may contribute to disparities in reproductive outcomes, particularly when outpatient care is segregated by insurance status and race.Objective To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of separate faculty and resident practice...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Karampreet Kaur, Annie Apple, Rebecca Hamm, Allison Schachter, Catherine Salva, Sarita Sonalkar, Kavita Vinekar, Shyann Hall, Abike James, Arina Chesnokova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Health Equity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29944694.2025.2530970
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849222057113419776
author Karampreet Kaur
Annie Apple
Rebecca Hamm
Allison Schachter
Catherine Salva
Sarita Sonalkar
Kavita Vinekar
Shyann Hall
Abike James
Arina Chesnokova
author_facet Karampreet Kaur
Annie Apple
Rebecca Hamm
Allison Schachter
Catherine Salva
Sarita Sonalkar
Kavita Vinekar
Shyann Hall
Abike James
Arina Chesnokova
author_sort Karampreet Kaur
collection DOAJ
description Background The structure of ambulatory care in teaching hospitals may contribute to disparities in reproductive outcomes, particularly when outpatient care is segregated by insurance status and race.Objective To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of separate faculty and resident practices in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), including payor and racial segregation.Methods Electronic survey administered to OBGYN Residency Program Directors (PDs) from March to September 2023.Results Ninety-two of 299 PDs responded (31%). Sixty-one programs (66%) reported separate resident and attending practices. Patient assignment was based on appointment availability (77%), patient request (54%), and insurance (37%). Only 30% of programs with separate practices collected data comparing patient demographics, care quality, or outcomes between practices; among these, 72% reported at least one demographic disparity, including differences in race (28%), insurance (67%), and socioeconomic status (61%). A majority reported similar quality of care and patient outcomes between practices, and 64% reported no efforts to integrate.Conclusions Separate attending and resident ambulatory practices in OBGYN are prevalent and can result in segregated care. National guidance is needed to promote equitable outpatient care while ensuring strong educational experiences. Solutions must be data-driven, locally-tailored, and developed in collaboration with patients, clinicians, educators, and professional organizations.
format Article
id doaj-art-b2c124f35af64668aa1e917db5352e59
institution Kabale University
issn 2994-4694
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Journal of Health Equity
spelling doaj-art-b2c124f35af64668aa1e917db5352e592025-08-26T08:38:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Health Equity2994-46942025-12-012110.1080/29944694.2025.2530970Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directorsKarampreet Kaur0Annie Apple1Rebecca Hamm2Allison Schachter3Catherine Salva4Sarita Sonalkar5Kavita Vinekar6Shyann Hall7Abike James8Arina Chesnokova9Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAPenn Center for Mental Health, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAPerelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USABackground The structure of ambulatory care in teaching hospitals may contribute to disparities in reproductive outcomes, particularly when outpatient care is segregated by insurance status and race.Objective To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of separate faculty and resident practices in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), including payor and racial segregation.Methods Electronic survey administered to OBGYN Residency Program Directors (PDs) from March to September 2023.Results Ninety-two of 299 PDs responded (31%). Sixty-one programs (66%) reported separate resident and attending practices. Patient assignment was based on appointment availability (77%), patient request (54%), and insurance (37%). Only 30% of programs with separate practices collected data comparing patient demographics, care quality, or outcomes between practices; among these, 72% reported at least one demographic disparity, including differences in race (28%), insurance (67%), and socioeconomic status (61%). A majority reported similar quality of care and patient outcomes between practices, and 64% reported no efforts to integrate.Conclusions Separate attending and resident ambulatory practices in OBGYN are prevalent and can result in segregated care. National guidance is needed to promote equitable outpatient care while ensuring strong educational experiences. Solutions must be data-driven, locally-tailored, and developed in collaboration with patients, clinicians, educators, and professional organizations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29944694.2025.2530970Health disparitieshealth equitysegregation of careambulatoryobstetrics and gynecology
spellingShingle Karampreet Kaur
Annie Apple
Rebecca Hamm
Allison Schachter
Catherine Salva
Sarita Sonalkar
Kavita Vinekar
Shyann Hall
Abike James
Arina Chesnokova
Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
Journal of Health Equity
Health disparities
health equity
segregation of care
ambulatory
obstetrics and gynecology
title Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
title_full Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
title_fullStr Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
title_full_unstemmed Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
title_short Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors
title_sort confronting segregation of care in obgyn a national survey of program directors
topic Health disparities
health equity
segregation of care
ambulatory
obstetrics and gynecology
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29944694.2025.2530970
work_keys_str_mv AT karampreetkaur confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT annieapple confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT rebeccahamm confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT allisonschachter confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT catherinesalva confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT saritasonalkar confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT kavitavinekar confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT shyannhall confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT abikejames confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors
AT arinachesnokova confrontingsegregationofcareinobgynanationalsurveyofprogramdirectors