2025 perinatal grand rounds

Challenges and Facilitators to Rural Obstetric Care

As many rural hospitals continue to close their labor and delivery units and the gap between the demand for and supply of physicians practicing obstetrics continues to grow, this study seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators to labor and delivery in small Wisconsin communities. We conducted interviews with rural-based family medicine and OB-GYN physicians to glean their perspectives on challenges and opportunities that they face in the provision of high-quality obstetrical care. Key themes emphasized include: 1) Patient Safety Programs and Training, 2) Staffing, and 3) Physician Involvement in Hospital Changes.

Register to unlock the course, then click ‘Continue.’ Course materials are available at the bottom of this page.
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Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the instructor

Madeline Edgerly, BA

Madeline (Maddie) Edgerly is a fourth-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She has conducted research on barriers and facilitators to rural obstetric care in Wisconsin under Dr. Leslie Ruffalo. Maddie is applying to residency this fall and plans to become a family medicine physician.


The speaker has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
  • Identify challenges to obstetric care in rural areas.
  • Describe 2-3 recent and future quality improvement and safety initiatives to improve care in community-based hospital obstetric care.
  • Describe the importance of preserving and strengthening rural obstetric care.


Accreditation Statement

Continuing Medical Education

The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC) is accredited by the Wisconsin Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC) designates this internet enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with their participation.

Course Content

Planning Committee

No one in control of content has any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Course Information

This webinar was recorded on August 21, 2025.

The expiration date for this course is October 6, 2028.

*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients.