there about 1.5 yrs ago and had a great experience. I loved the staff

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Does anyone know when the renovations are starting? I'm giving birth in early June and have not yet received a letter.

Mid April

This is a Penn health system wide change.
Their new requirement is that all laboring women must have an MD assigned to them and in the hospital throughout the entire laboring process.
I spoke with my OB about this. It is in place to assure that you are safe and have access to an MD at all times.
It will affect each practive differently. For example in my practice (Penn OB/GYN and midwifery) the chance of getting your MD goes from 1/5 to 1/7.
So there is a 2/7 chance you will be delivered by some who although is likely very qualified, you have never met.

The impression given is that this is general and best practice- anyone know if this is true- I still have not had my OB appointment to ask pertinent questions.

Interesting... I was given information different from that posted above. That said, it seemed to me that the doctors don't have much more information than the patients right now as this is a hospital policy change (and therefore not something the individual practices had much say about).

First, I was told this policy was Pennsy only, not Penn Health universally (thus, HUP will not have laborists).

I was also told that the laborists will be THE doctors once patients check into the hospital. Essentially, your OB manages your prenatal care, but once you get to the hospital you are simply assigned a laborist and that's that. Your OB is not a part of the picture at the time of actual labor and delivery.

I'm hoping others can confirm that this isn't correct, because this system doen't seem appealing at all!

Anyone else speak with their OB? Care to share what you learned?

The info I posted was from my OB as of my appointment on 4/10.
It also seems that each practice is deciding how best to utilize the laborists so each practice may be different.

The info I posted was from a doctor in my practice, Penn Ob/Gyn and Midwifery as of today, 4/14.

So, yeah, there's seems to be some conflicting information out there, even from within the same practice.

I was told that these changes will be taking place at ALL Philadelphia Hospitals. Therefore, if you switch pratices/ hospitals you will still encounter this.

Apparently, it is being rolled out for safety reasons. I was told that the (now) prenatel OBs will be on a scheduled rotation at the hospital. So, there is a chance that your prenatel OB will still deliver your baby.

It seems that there are conflicting stories. This was what I was told at my OB's office.

I don't have any answers to specific questions regarding each OB practice, but I can add that the letter I rec'd stated that the rennovations are scheduled to begin 4/14. Our birthing class instructor confirmed that no private rooms (recovery, not labor and delivery) would be available for 2 years at Pennsylvania Hospital.

The letter also stated that the new process involving the laborists won't be in place until July 1.