Should Obstetric Anesthesia Training Focus More on Simulation and POCUS?

As the maternal mortality crisis in the United States worsens, qualified anesthesiologists are in greater demand than ever before. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global maternal mortality rates have increased in recent years, with the U.S. lagging further behind its peer nations. In fact, data shows that the U.S. maternal mortality rate is more than three times that of most other high-income nations, while the rate for Black women is also nearly three times that of White women. The fact that four out of every five pregnancy-related deaths are potentially preventable is arguably the most troubling aspect of the issue. The maternal health care workforce must take action in response to these alarming statistics. As anesthesiologists, we can help reverse this trend by ensuring that our trainees are clinically competent in the management of routine and...