Phoenix Newsletter - October 2025 President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change Read President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change
Home Research Research Library Impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: Perceptions of family physicians in the United States Impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: Perceptions of family physicians in the United States 2022 Author(s) Goldstein, Jessica Taylor, Eden, Aimee R, Taylor, Melina K, Dotson, Andrea, and Barreto, Tyler W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Maternity Care, and Quality Of Care Volume Birth Source Birth BACKGROUND: Patient-centered care is the best practice in the care of pregnant and postpartum patients. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted changes in perinatal care policies, which were often reactive, resulting in unintended consequences, many of which made the delivery of patient-centered care more difficult. This study aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal health care delivery from the perspective of family physicians in the United States. METHODS: From October 5 to November 4, 2020, we surveyed mid- to late-career family physicians who provide perinatal care. We conducted descriptive analyses to measure the impact of COVID-19 on prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, patient experience, and patient volume. An immersion-crystallization approach was used to analyze qualitative data provided as open-text comments. RESULTS: Of the 1518 survey respondents, 1062 (69.8%) stated that they currently attend births; 595 of those elaborated about the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care in free-text comments. Eight themes emerged related to the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: visitation, patient decisions, testing, personal protective equipment, care continuity, changes in care delivery, reassignment, and volume. The greatest perceived impact of COVID-19 was on patient experience. CONCLUSIONS: Family physicians who provided perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic noted a considerable impact on patient experience, which particularly affected the ability to deliver patient-centered and family-centered care. Continued research is needed to understand the long-term impact of policies affecting the delivery of patient-centered perinatal care and to inform more evidence-based, proactive policies to be implemented in future pandemic or disaster situations. ABFM Research Read all 2024 Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations Go to Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations 1990 Residency training for rural primary care Go to Residency training for rural primary care 2022 Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex Go to Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex 2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings
Author(s) Goldstein, Jessica Taylor, Eden, Aimee R, Taylor, Melina K, Dotson, Andrea, and Barreto, Tyler W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Maternity Care, and Quality Of Care Volume Birth Source Birth
ABFM Research Read all 2024 Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations Go to Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations 1990 Residency training for rural primary care Go to Residency training for rural primary care 2022 Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex Go to Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex 2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings
2024 Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations Go to Rural Family Physicians Are More Likely to Collaborate with Multisector Community Organizations
2022 Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex Go to Relationship Between Physician Burnout And The Quality And Cost Of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries Is Complex
2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings
