Medical Director, Labor and Delivery

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Medical Director of Labor and Delivery is a physician leader responsible for the overall clinical, operational, and quality performance of the Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit. This individual works collaboratively with nursing leadership, anesthesia, neonatology, maternal-fetal medicine, midwifery, and hospital administration to ensure the delivery of safe, evidence-based, patient-centered obstetric care.                                    The role includes both administrative leadership (30%) and direct clinical care (70%) as an Obstetric Hospitalist, providing in-house obstetric services including labor management, triage, emergency response, and operative obstetrics.                              

Job Description

Administrative Leadership (30%) 

Clinical Quality and Patient Safety                         

Provide physician leadership for all quality and safety initiatives on Labor and Delivery.                              

Monitor and improve key performance metrics including:                              

Cesarean delivery rates                         

Operative vaginal delivery rates                            

Obstetric hemorrhage outcomes                         

Hypertensive emergency management                           

Shoulder dystocia outcomes                            

Maternal and neonatal morbidity                             

Lead implementation and maintenance of evidence-based clinical protocols and order sets.                          

Oversee compliance with national guidelines and patient safety bundles, including those from Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, The Joint Commission, and American College of

Obstetricians and Gynecologists.                         

Review adverse events, near misses, and safety reports.                             

Lead collaborative risk reviews and action plans related to obstetric events.                         

Physician and Interdisciplinary Collaboration     

Foster a collaborative, respectful culture among private obstetricians, hospitalists, certified nurse-midwives, nurses, and consultants.                          

Serve as the primary physician liaison between medical staff and nursing leadership.                              

Facilitate resolution of clinical and operational concerns among providers.                           

Education and Competency    

Lead or oversee multidisciplinary simulation drills for obstetric emergencies.                              

Coordinate educational conferences including weekly fetal heart rate tracing reviews and morbidity and mortality conferences.                         

Ensure provider competency in key obstetric procedures and emergency response protocols.                          

Operational Oversight    

Participate in staffing and scheduling discussions for physician coverage.                            

Optimize patient flow, triage efficiency, and operating room utilization.                             

Collaborate on budgeting and capital equipment planning.                            

Evaluate opportunities to improve efficiency and patient satisfaction.                          

Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance  

Ensure readiness for accreditation and regulatory surveys.                          

Maintain compliance with hospital policies, credentialing standards, and documentation requirements.                          

Strategic Planning

Contribute to departmental strategic initiatives related to maternal services growth, program development, and community outreach.                          

Support implementation of new programs and clinical services.                             

Clinical Responsibilities (70%) 

As an Obstetric Hospitalist, the Medical Director will:                             

Provide in-house obstetric coverage on Labor and Delivery.                          

Evaluate and manage obstetric triage patients.                          

Provide labor management and intrapartum care.                          

Perform vaginal and cesarean deliveries, including emergent operative interventions.                              

Respond to obstetric emergencies.                           

Manage postpartum complications as appropriate.                         

Interpret fetal heart rate tracings and collaborate with the care team regarding management decisions. 

Supervise advanced practice providers and learners as applicable.   

Document care accurately and in a timely manner.                              

Leadership Responsibilities     

Chair or co-chair the Obstetric Executive Committee.                          

Participate in Perinatal Committee, Department meetings, and Medical Executive activities as requested.                             

Provide regular reports to department and hospital leadership regarding quality, safety, and operational performance.     

JOB REQUIREMENTS  

Required  

· MD or DO degree.                              

· Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology.                         

· Current unrestricted medical license in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.                          

· Eligible for and maintaining hospital privileges.                           

· Minimum 5 years of clinical obstetric experience.                           

· Demonstrated leadership experience in quality improvement, patient safety, or medical administration.                             

Preferred 

· Prior experience as Labor and Delivery Medical Director, OB Hospitalist leader, or quality officer.                         

· Training or certification in patient safety, healthcare leadership, or quality improvement.                           

Required additional Knowledge and Abilities   

· Excellent clinical judgment and technical obstetric skills.                             

· Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.                              

· Ability to analyze quality and operational data.                            

· Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.                           

· Effective written and verbal communication.                           

· Commitment to a culture of safety, equity, and compassionate care.