Department Spotlight: Obstetrics and Gynecology
We deliver: Additional staff and expanded services are in the works on the downtown and north campuses.
The department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville is in the midst of an exciting transformation, one based on a renewed commitment to providing team-oriented, high-quality patient care.
Since January, the department has been developing a strategic plan aligned with the goals of UF Health and UF Health Jacksonville. Our faculty and residents, as well as many of our nurse leaders, have contributed to the plan, and we have identified faculty and resident champions to lead its implementation.
John Davis, M.D., is a professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Following are highlights of our initiatives:
FACULTY RECRUITMENT
We have hired two nocturnists to cover the downtown hospital Sunday night through Friday night. These providers will primarily cover Labor and Delivery, allowing for continuity of care during the overnight hours.
In addition, two new high-risk pregnancy specialists will join us in the fall, allowing us to optimize our high-risk pregnancy services. Finally, we are hiring a new gynecologic oncologist and a general OB-GYN. Our incoming faculty are energetic and talented, and we are very excited they are joining the team.
INPATIENT CARE DOWNTOWN
In Labor and Delivery, we are developing a more team-based approach to patient management. Last fall, the L&D nurses and physicians jointly attended a local conference that helped foster more of a team mindset while caring for laboring patients. This past spring, we began holding twice daily multidisciplinary conferences with obstetric physicians, L&D nurses, the obstetric anesthesia team and pediatrics personnel. The purpose is to improve communication among all providers caring for L&D patients.
Two recently hired nocturnists allow for continuity of care in Labor and Delivery during the overnight hours at UF Health Jacksonville.
In July, we created a new position and now have a faculty member dedicated to covering the Pregnant Women’s Acute Care Center during daytime hours. Also, we are in the process of enhancing the structure of our gynecology section, which will improve patient care and resident training in that area.
NORTH CAMPUS
Our department has a strong presence at UF Health North. To expand services, we plan to have our subspecialists see patients there. Currently, we have one urogynecologist who sees patients at the north campus. After our new faculty come on board, we will have a high-risk pregnancy provider and a gynecologic oncologist seeing patients. In addition to increasing our subspecialist presence on the north campus, we will begin performing antepartum fetal testing, which will provide another great convenience for patients.
More OB-GYN services, including antepartum fetal testing, are coming to UF Health North.
PRACTICES
At our existing practices, we plan to improve patient access, enhance the patient experience and perform new in-office procedures. We also are in the process of opening new practices. In April, we began offering services at the new Nocatee location and plan to add a second provider to that site in the fall. In December, we will begin services at UF Health Wildlight in Nassau County.
QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY
With the support of the Performance Improvement Division, we are creating a new Women’s and Children’s Performance Improvement Committee. In addition, we are reorganizing our peer review process and committing ourselves to the “Just Culture” concept. We are confident these efforts will allow for ongoing improvement in patient care.
EDUCATION
We plan to expand our resident simulation training, including robotic training, and enhance faculty mentoring of residents. We will revamp our department educational conference schedule to include regular grand rounds speakers, as well as presentations on professional development and physician wellness.
Kelly Best, M.D., is director of the obstetrics and gynecology residency program.
RESEARCH
We have a well-established tradition of excellence in research in obstetrics and general gynecology. To expand on this tradition, we plan to participate in national trials in gynecologic oncology and urogynecology. We also plan to collaborate with other hospital departments as the research focus here expands.
It is an exciting time in the OB-GYN department. With new faculty, new initiatives and a renewed commitment to excellence in patient care, we are pushing — no pun intended — ourselves to become the region’s most valued OB-GYN health care asset. We look forward to working with you as we take this journey.
