OBHG Exploring ‘The Farthest Reaches Of Possibility’ At the very beginning of his obstetrics career, Dr. Chris Swain was astonished to learn that many expectant mothers, concerned that something might be wrong, did not even see a physician when they came to the emergency room. Instead, they were evaluated by a Laborand-Delivery nurse taking instructions over the phone from a physician. If the patient and her baby were in serious distress, it became a waiting game, with the risk escalating every minute she waited for medical attention from her doctor — or any doctor. “One night in early 2006, I woke up with an idea,” Dr. Swain explained. Private OB/GYNs not only suffered the inconvenience of being disturbed at all hours, but they also were taking risks by managing patients’ care over the phone without actually seeing them. Delays in care at this time can be serious. “It was my ‘aha’ moment,” he said. “We had to fix that, and the way to do it was by creating the 24/7 Obstetric Emergency Department (OBED)” utilizing the hospitalist model that had been adopted in internal medicine. The OBED not only could improve patient safety but also provide needed all-hours support for overworked local obstetricians. The Health Corporation of America (HCA) agreed to conduct a pilot program of the OBED model in Florida. Soon hospitals across the country expressed interest. In the early years, Dr. Swain wore many hats. “I was the complaint department, human resources department, marketing department, et cetera. I did a lot of the work myself, including the company’s first website,” Dr. Swain said. “I paid everyone with hand-written checks. We have come a long way since then.”
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In 2009, Dr. Swain joined forces with his brother, David Swain, to incorporate Ob Hospitalist Group, and the following year, they moved OBHG’s headquarters to Mauldin, South Carolina. In May 2010, the growth equity firm Summit Partners announced its initial investment in OBHG. In 2013, Ares Management, a publicly traded, global asset manager, became the lead private equity investor.
“ One night in early 2006, I woke up with an idea, Private OB/GYNs not only suffered the inconvenience of being disturbed at all hours, but they also were taking risks by managing patients’ care over the phone without actually seeing them. Delays in care at this time can be serious.” — Christopher C. Swain, MD Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“ I want OBHG to explore the farthest reaches of possibility. We must approach innovation in unprecedented ways and ask ourselves how we can add value for all people and organizations that our programs touch.” — Lenny Castiglione Chief Executive Officer Ten years in, the journey continues at an ever faster pace. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Lenny Castiglione, every member of the OBHG team nationwide is encouraged to expand their outlook far beyond current service capacity, to harness their foresight, vision, and ingenuity to imagine what OBHG can become in the future. Castiglione envisions an OBHG that is recognized as the national gold standard in obstetric care, an OBHG that leads the nation in training OB/GYN residents, an OBHG that reaches into small hospitals in rural communities via telehealth initiatives to elevate the safety of OB healthcare for women in any setting. He sees OBHG physicians taking leadership roles with the Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “I want OBHG to explore the farthest reaches of possibility,” he said. “We must approach innovation in unprecedented ways and ask ourselves how we can add value for all people and organizations that our programs touch.” Lofty? Perhaps. Ambitious? Certainly. Possible? Absolutely. To build such an infrastructure is fundamental to OBHG’s mission. To innovate is OBHG’s charge as an industry leader. To elevate the standard of women’s healthcare is our calling and passion.
And this is only the beginning.
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Ob Hospitalist Group Timeline
2006
• Ob Hospitalist Group LLC is incorporated in Florida. • 4 hospitalists with OBHG’s first program deliver 15 babies.
2007
• Founder Dr. Chris Swain closes his practice to work full time out of his home. • OBHG hires its first employee.
2008
• ACOG identifies hospitalist medicine as “the future of OB practice.” • 18 hospitalists serving 4 OBHG programs deliver 972 babies.
2009
• Dr. Swain partners with his brother, David Swain, who becomes CEO. • 49 OBHG hospitalists in 11 programs deliver 3,120 babies.
2010
• OBHG’s headquarters moves to Greenville, South Carolina. • 85 hospitalists serving 19 programs deliver 4,928 babies.
2011
• OBHG establishes new programs in 11 states. • 117 OBHG hospitalists in 26 programs nationwide deliver 8,604 babies.
2012
• OBHG employs 7 regional sales directors and hires its first director of marketing.
2013
• OBHG celebrates 1 million physician hours served. • OBHG is listed as one of Forbes’ 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.
2014
• 324 OBHG hospitalists in 65 programs deliver 23,171 babies.
2015
• A new executive leadership team, led by CEO Lenny Castiglione, is formed to continue our growth. • 411 OBHG hospitalists in 89 programs deliver 27,366 babies.
2016
• OBHG amasses more than 450 hospitalists in nearly 100 programs in 26 states.
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Written and published by OBHG Media.
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