Every OBGYN, whether in the hospital or community, may face a high-acuity obstetric emergency. On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Nicole Faulkner interviews OB hospitalist Dr. Katie Fung-Yip to explore the evolving role of OB hospitalists and the obstetric emergency department (OB ED) in managing critical situations. They discuss how in-hospital coverage, multidisciplinary teamwork, and dedicated triage protocols can improve emergency response and patient outcomes.
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Timestamps00:00 - Introduction02:42 - Breaking Down OB Roles06:01 - MFM and Hospitalist Collaboration07:35 - Inside the OB ED12:31 - High Stakes Emergencies Overview18:02 - Amniotic Fluid Embolism21:33 - Cardiac Arrest Pearls and Drills24:44 - Team Leadership Under Pressure29:19 - Emotions Debrief and Bonding37:48 - Simulation Practice and Mentorship 40:18 - Early Career Fit and Support 43:10 - Wrap Up
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More about this episodeDr. Fung-Yip explains how the hospitalist role differs from community OBGYNs, emphasizing the value of continuous in-hospital coverage for urgent and high-risk cases. She describes the spectrum of care, from routine pregnancies to complex emergencies requiring collaboration among hospitalists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and multidisciplinary teams. The discussion covers OB ED operations, the Maternal Fetal Triage Index, hospital design for rapid response, and review of critical emergencies such as postpartum hemorrhage and amniotic fluid embolism. Dr. Fung-Yip highlights how these events can escalate to maternal cardiac arrest, requiring immediate ACLS, team coordination, and sometimes resuscitative hysterotomy. She stresses that preparedness depends on ongoing education, simulation, mentorship, debriefing, and strong teamwork.
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ResourcesMaternal Fetal Triage Index (MFTI)https://www.awhonn.org/education/hospital-products/maternal-fetal-triage-index-mfti/
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BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women’s health.
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