After working as a hospitalist and solo practitioner, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, joined Northeast Valley Health Corporation as a supervising physician. Twice named a top OB/GYN by the Consumers' Research Council of America, Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, is committed to improving patient outcomes for women, especially Black women who experience higher rates of maternal mortality and post-delivery complications.According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication than white women. While the cause of this discrepancy is complex, there are three factors that most experts acknowledge:Bias in the medical field: While explicit training can reduce unconscious bias held by medical professionals, negative stereotypes about Black women can influence how they are treated in medical settings. Doctors may dismiss a Black patient's complaints or be more likely to make medical decisions on their behalf compared to other patients.Higher disease burden: Black women have higher rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and obesity that can cause pregnancy complications. Black women are also more likely to develop fibroids, which can increase in size during pregnancy.Lack of prenatal care: In the United State, Black women are more likely to be underinsured and lack access to contraceptive and prenatal care. Adequate prenatal care can greatly reduce the chance of pregnancy-related death.
Drawing on experience caring for patients with a number of medical groups, Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, works with the Northeast Valley Health Corporation as a supervising physician, where she performs minimally invasive outpatient procedures. In addition, Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, is a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), which provides educational resources and support to medical professionals.The organization has issued a white paper arguing that Medicare and Affordable Care Act (ACA) restrictions should be repealed, highlighting those that prevent medical professionals from offering affordable options to uninsured patients. In the white paper, which appears in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, AAPS executive director Jane M. Orient, MD, claims that this would provide millions of Americans with more options for their insurance.She also argues that current restrictions would lead to increasing costs, as well as a decrease in the quality of health care patients receive. As such, AAPS suggests removing these restrictions would allow medical professionals who accept Medicare to provide services to more patients, which would result in an expansion of overall healthcare coverage.
\Serving as a supervising physician at the Northeast Valley Health Corporation, Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, is responsible for providing obstetric and gynecologic care to underserved patients in areas of Los Angeles. In addition, Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, is involved with professional organizations such as the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS).Following the release of the Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act, the AAPS stated many of the benefits lawmakers claim it has may not be accurate. For example, while the Act looks to recognize private dynamics between insurance providers and plans, the AAPS argues no such dynamics exist.Instead, benefits may only be seen by patients using “participating providers,” which could mean that many may not see the potential benefits the new law is supposed to have. This has led to the AAPS asserting corporations will effectively get to choose which treatments a patient will receive.As such, the AAPS has called for greater transparency, alongside a greater choice of insurance products, which also should be explained clearly to potential buyers before they sign up.
Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, is an obstetrician and gynecologist working in the San Fernando Valley area as an independent contractor and a supervising physician for NorthEast Valley Health. As an MD, Dr. Shawanda Renee Obey is familiar with the issue of physician burnout and the problems it can cause for both doctors and patients.Physician burnout has been on the rise, thanks in part to modern health metrics and a comparative culture in healthcare. One of the most obvious symptoms is exhaustion. Physicians may feel emotionally and physically depleted to the point that it affects their ability to care for others.They may also become cynical as a result of long-term stress. This is particularly nefarious because empathy is a physician’s stock in trade, and a cynical attitude impairs a doctor's ability to connect with patients and staff, ultimately affecting how all involved care for patients.Finally, and perhaps most damaging, is doubt. When doctors begin to doubt the impact they’re making for patients it can lead to profound dissatisfaction, resulting in depression and even suicide.
