Benefits of choosing a family doctor specializing in obstetrical care

mother with newborn
Family Physician Dr. Tiffany Florindo
​ Dr. Tiffany Florindo is one of many NYGH family physicians who provide obstetrical care. ​

Continuous and comprehensive care to patients and their families

When we think of family doctors, we think of a health professional who helps diagnose serious medical conditions, provides preventative medicine and helps navigate their patients through the medical system. Many family doctors have additional training in their areas of interest such as obstetrics, the field of medicine which focuses on childbirth and the care of maternal health.  

“North York General Hospital has 18 Family Medicine Obstetrics (FMOB) providers who specialize in maternal, fetal and newborn care. These family physicians have received specialty training and provide exemplary care in obstetrics,” says Dr. Tiffany Florindo, a Family Medicine Obstetrics provider in the Family Medicine Teaching Unit at North York General Hospital (NYGH).

Dr. L Rosenberg
Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Chair of the Family Medicine Obstetrics Division

“We provide care to low-risk women whose pregnancy, labour and delivery is anticipated to be straightforward. However, we have a seamless relationship with our obstetrician-gynaecologist (OBGYN) colleagues to be able to work together as a team for more high-risk cases and births to deliver excellent collaborative care,” says Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Chair of the Family Medicine Obstetrics Division at NYGH.

 “Many of our patients want us to lead their care, and in some cases we do this by providing ‘shared care’ where we are managing patient care throughout the patient’s pregnancy but have specific consultations with an OBGYN depending on their level of risk,” says Dr. Florindo.

“FMOB providers will consult our OBGYN colleagues (who are surgically trained) should the delivery require a different level of care (for example; Cesarean section or forceps delivery),” says Dr. Florindo. “In these cases, we still stay involved in the delivery and act as an assistant to the OBGYN.”

 

There are many benefits of having an FMOB provider including continuity of care which means your family doctor is seeing you pre-conception, then throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum period and, in many cases, will also provide care for your baby as they grow.

Family physicians will refer expecting patients to FMOB providers so they can specifically provide care through the patient’s pregnancy journey; other patients will be referred through a walk-in clinic, or those without a family physician will come in directly to the unit.

“I love the interactions with families, seeing them through pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and then seeing the transition of growing families,” says Dr. Florindo. “The uniqueness of our specialty allows us to provide continuous and comprehensive care to our patients and their families.”

Most hospitals have FMOB providers as part of their family medicine practice. “I was by my sister’s side when she was delivering her first child and her doctor was an FMOB,” says Dr. Florindo. “I was in my first year of medical school and after this experience it sparked an interest because of the level of clinical and procedural medicine. I knew this was an area I wanted to work in, while still providing primary care. There is nothing like following your patient before, during and after pregnancy  then watching the baby you helped care for from conception, grow up. It truly is an honour.”

Learn more 

If you or someone you know would like more information about our Family Practice Obstetrics providers or would like to book an appointment, please visit our website or call 416-756-6822.

This article first appeared in the September 2019 issue of The Pulse.

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