Advanced Maternity Care Pathway

Pregnancy-related care is an essential component of comprehensive family medicine. Yet access to maternity care in the United States continues to decline, with millions of Americans living in communities with shortages of obstetrical services, and many experiencing significant disparities based on geography, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Family physicians are uniquely positioned to address these challenges. They provide patient-centered, relationship-based care across the continuum of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, often serving communities with the greatest need and contributing meaningfully to the maternity care workforce.

At SCVH Family Medicine Residency, we believe that maternity care is a core component of family medicine training. Our residency provides robust obstetrical experiences across two major county hospitals – Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) and Regional Medical Center (RMC) – that enable all residents to meet and often exceed the ACGME maternity care requirements during residency.

The Advanced Maternity Care Pathway was created to provide additional training for residents who desire greater exposure to comprehensive pregnancy-related care, including higher-risk prenatal and postpartum care, labor and delivery management, and obstetrical ultrasound. Residents who successfully complete this pathway will be prepared to incorporate low-risk prenatal care and vaginal deliveries into independent practice. They will also be well positioned to pursue obstetrical fellowships for additional advanced and surgical obstetrical training.

Residents interested in participating in the Advanced Maternity Care Pathway should indicate their interest to Dr. Ko at the beginning of their PGY-2 year.

Pathway Expectations

Residents participating in the Advanced Maternity Care Pathway will:

  • Have a demonstrated interest in providing prenatal care, postpartum care, and/or vaginal deliveries in their future practice

  • Complete at least four months (or 400 hours) of labor and delivery training, including core rotations and additional selective blocks on L&D during residency to meet this requirement*

  • Cumulatively perform or directly supervise at least 80 deliveries, including at least 50 vaginal deliveries*

  • Complete a quality improvement/ FCM project focused on a prenatal or obstetrical issue in either the outpatient or inpatient setting

  • Deliver at least one obstetrics-related noon conference didactic session or two M&M cases during residency

  • Maintain certification as an ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics) provider

  • Be preferentially scheduled in Dr. Ko's bimonthly OB clinic for dedicated obstetrical ultrasound learning and hands-on practice

*These requirements are based on ACGME recommendations set for residents who seek the option to incorporate intrapartum care and vaginal deliveries into independent practice.