OBstat Expands Locum Tenens OB/GYN Staffing Nationwide
In a Becker's Hospital Review commentary, OBstat (a locum tenens staffing firm tied to Ob Hospitalist Group) argues that locum tenens OB/GYN staffing should become a strategic workforce tool rather than a last-resort fix for labor and delivery units. The piece cites March of Dimes data showing 96 labor and delivery unit closures across 35 states between January 2024 and May 2026, with 58% leaving their county without a birthing facility, and notes HRSA projections of a 7,660 FTE OB/GYN shortage by 2038. OBstat says it has provided over 250,000 hours of OB/GYN coverage since 2024 and is expanding its specialized locum tenens services nationwide in 2026 to hospitals, clinics, and health systems facing staffing gaps. The argument frames flexible staffing as a way to sustain rural and underserved maternity access while hospitals pursue longer-term recruitment.