Obstetrics and gynecology, also known by its shorthand OB-GYN, can be a hard medical field to navigate because they often deal with some of the most sensitive and significant aspects of a woman’s health, from fertility and pregnancy to menopause and beyond. Stakes are high, and the decisions made can have profound and lasting impacts on a woman’s health and quality of life.
OB-GYNs handle a wide range of mild diseases and conditions including menstrual disorders, vaginal and vulvar conditions, urinary tract infections, sexual health issues, reproductive health concerns, hormonal imbalances, and common pregnancy0related issues. More complex OB-GYN conditions include ovarian, cervical, or endometrial cancers, pelvic prolapse, polycystic ovaries syndrome, endometriosis, high risk pregnancy complications, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and more.
Even OB-GYN conditions that are considered “minor” can have a major impact on a woman’s life. Diagnosing, treating, and managing OB-GYN conditions, whether minor or major, requires advanced diagnostic tools, often multidisciplinary approaches, regular checkups and communication between patient and doctor.
In additional to physical exams and blood tests, OB-GYN diagnostic tools include ultrasounds, MRIs, CTs and a number of other scoping equipment. The most uniquitous of them is the use of ultrasound. Even though the tool is commonly used, errors are not rare. Research shows that the most frequent types of errors fall into one of three categories: (1) technical/procedural, (2) perception/interpretation, and (3) communication/documentation. The overwhelming majority of these errors are preventable, but their avoidance involves, among other strategies: adequate training and continuing education, knowledge of the guidelines, ample patient counseling, effective communication with referring providers, and meticulous documentation1.