https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:35:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-70176 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:40:34 +0000 shellio 70176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a physician (an anesthesiologist), so I'm biased too, but I am all for teaching hospitals. As everyone has mentioned, I feel more comfortable having more eyes around to watch for anything going wrong. In my experience, students NEVER make decisions, they are basically observing and occasionally doing something hands-on, usually with an anxious resident watching them like a hawk. I had an awesome experience delivering at the teaching hospital (it wasn't where I trained or where I work now, but it was great) and plan to go back for the next birth. There are going to be both great and (unfortunately) lousy attending physicians in both teaching and private hospitals, but in teaching hospitals, there is more of an obligation to keep up with the current literature and standards of care, so their practice might be a little more up to date. </p> <p>I did request that the attending anesthesiologist rather than the nurse put in my spinal, but that's because I know her. I also would have let a resident do it, I had an anesthesia resident put in my spinal for another procedure. (And it was her first day! She did great though.)</p> <p>You have to do what you're comfortable with - as a resident on OB, when a patient requested that the attending put in their epidural, it was always insulting even though I tried not to take it personally. Also - while on my OB rotation, I put in roughly 40-50 epidurals per week, while the attending might do 1-2 per week, give or take. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-70106 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:12:38 +0000 prettylizy 70106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no preference either way. There is only 1 hospital in our area that delivers babies, and it's a teaching hospital, so thats what I'll get. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-70099 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:49:09 +0000 Lozza 70099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked my in-laws (both physicians) about this once, and they both said that, in general, they feel more confident about the care in teaching hospitals. As other posters have mentioned, you have a bigger team, so there are just more people around watching and ensuring that everything is ok. And more people to contribute to making the best decisions for you. Plus, teaching hospitals tend to have many more formalized standard operating procedures in place designed to ensure proper care, whereas private hospitals tend to be more likely to let your individual doctor just do his/her own thing (which is fine in most cases, but also means that there's not the same safety net if something slips his/her mind or s/he misses something...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-70037 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:18:19 +0000 mynoahbear 70037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth at a teaching hospital. My doctor is the head of the prenatal/ ob department and only sees high risk patients. He always had at least two students with him but he always asked me if it was ok if they were there. He also performed my c-section himself but during the procedure I could here him explaining everything to the residents. I'm glad I was at a teaching hospital because I felt my care was much more thorough, as my doctor was teaching at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-70023 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:05:03 +0000 MamaCate 70023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think more important than whether it is a teaching hospital is the overall quality of your experience with your specific hospital in your town, as it is clear from the answers above that there is a big range. My DH is a med student so we initially planned to go there. But we heard mixed reviews about it and nothing but raves about a private hospital so that is where we ended up. I had a great experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69994 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:39:56 +0000 Sha 69994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm ok with teaching hospitals and my husband is a resident too. i had a med student observing my c-section and it was fine, although annoying bc my husband used the opportunity to "test" him with questions. we were those annoying people who rejected the resident who came to do my epidural. for that i wanted someone with experience, since i've heard terrible stories about people who had to have it placed numerous times. i waited for the head person to to come and do it himself. it was the most powerful epidural in history so i think it was worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69987 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:28:46 +0000 MsMini 69987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may be biased because I am a nurse, and obviously I had to be taught and learn how to do my job. I am more than willing to allow students/residents learn using my case. In Canada though, all hospitals are considered teaching hospitals, so there is no other option, though when you consent to treatment you can designate wether or not you will allow students on your case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69964 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:42:39 +0000 lemondrop 69964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have a teaching hospital available, but my doc's practice usually has med students going through rotations there. I have had med students seeing me first before my doc for most of the pregnancy. They always ask if it is ok first and never do anything invasive without my doctor present, but I am totally fine with it. There was one on call with my doc during my delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69326 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:30:48 +0000 runsyellowlites 69326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only concern I would have with a teaching hospital is intervention &amp; cesarean rate. And who would be doing the delivering since it's not as likely that it's actually "your" ob.</p> <p>So I guess I would look at and compare those rates of each hospital.</p> <p>I totally get that residents are qualified, but given their lessened experience I wouldn't want to have unnecessary intervention just b/c they want to error on the side of caution. =/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69300 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:23:07 +0000 banana 69300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. After watching Grey's Anatomy, we decided we would NEVER go to a teaching hospital! j/k</p> <p>I've never been to a teaching hospital (i dont' think) but I wouldn't have anything against it as long as the residents were being well supervised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69291 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:19:02 +0000 googly-eyes 69291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mind a teaching hospital. I think residents have plenty of training and supervision. Maybe not the ones in their first month...but I don't think they just say, here's your medical degree, it's your first day of work, do everything on your own!!! Or maybe they do. I think I may feel differently if I were high risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69231 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:18:47 +0000 owlmom 69231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth at a teaching hospital. All of the best hospitals in my city are teaching hospitals. I didn't really have a choice, though, because my OB only has privileges at teaching hospitals. If you're concerned about medical students observing your labor, you have every right to request that they not observe. Just tell your nurse that you only want "medically necessary" personnel in your room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69183 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:19:52 +0000 Mrs. Blue 69183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is interesting to me because we've been talking a lot about this. The city we live in only has two hospitals: one is a teaching hospital and one is private. I lean more towards the teaching hospital because I feel like they have the experts. They have the people who are teaching others. They seem to have more innovative programs, like a free doula program. Also, my current OBGYN is a director of the OB program and I would like to not have to change as soon as I get PG. On the other hand, my husband is adamant about using the private hospital. He sees the teaching hospital as a greater risk for me and baby. Also, he madetgw point that not all law professors are the best practicing lawyers (we both are lawyers). While this is true, it seems like doctors who are teaching would have to remain more up on new techniques, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69112 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:46:17 +0000 tequiero21 69112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>well, my answer is a bit different than @winniebee. i think it really depends on where you go for the teaching hospitals. teaching hospitals can be good or bad. depending on the situation. some places, they let the residents take part in a lot, which i wouldn't want. but then, some residents do so much, that they're probably better than the actual physician (just because of sheer volume, they get more experience and maybe the physician is rusty cuz he lets the residents do all)... and it really depends on what they do. some places, they don't let the residents do much at all, just pretty much watch. which i think is what my practice does because they said residents will be there, but the doctor does the delivery. i think that if they're just there to watch, it doesn't really make a difference whether or not it's a teaching hospital. i think the benefit of going to a nonteaching hospital is that there are no residents who will be involved in your care. (don't forget, residents are still learning).... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69107 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:40:01 +0000 winniebee 69107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is a resident, so perhaps my answer is biased.</p> <p>In Boston, the teaching hospitals are the best hospitals. At teaching hospitals, attending physicians train residents, fellows, and med students. What that normally means is more hands on deck to assist and more help if needed. It does not mean that residents (and definitely NOT med students) are running your care. The attending physician (here, the OB), is still oversees and managers your care. </p> <p>Also, FWIW though there "may" be a medical student at your birth, it's actually more likely that a resident (ie, graduated medical school, gets paid to work) would be assisting with your birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69096 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:16:03 +0000 BabyLove 69096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My personl preference, is to go with teaching hospitals. I don't have any scientific or quantifiable info on this topic, But I just assume that a teaching hospital has not only the most experience doctors to oversee the studens, but they have studens who are constantly learning so their knowledge is fresh. If that makes sense. For instance, say you come into a hospital with something that is not often diagnosed. The student may have just learned about it and might be able to offer a diagnosis more readily than their teacher. Idk, it happened to my friend, so I guess it just kinda stuck with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69092 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:11:40 +0000 cascademom 69092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: The main hospital for my practice is a teaching one. I have no problem with that since I grew up with some medical issues and remember students observing my appointments.</p> <p>Also, it's not necessarily your OB when you deliver. My practice always has one doctor at the hospital on a given day. When I reach a certain point, I start visiting other doctors in the practice to become familiar with them in case they're covering the hospital on the day I deliver. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69066 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:42:27 +0000 aunt pol 69066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I'd mind one student being there, maybe two. No more than that though, it's not a spectator sport! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-69053 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:31:15 +0000 Mrsbells 69053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I havent had a baby yet but in terms of general hospital treatments I dont mind whether its a teaching hospital or not. As long I am being treated by an experienced professional I dont mind if student observes. They do ask if you have a problem with it and if you do then they wont have students there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-68992 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:40:15 +0000 heffalump 68992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a student sit in for my baby's birth. I'm a very private person... especially when it comes to stuff like that (wouldn't even let my mom in the room!) but I didn't mind at all. It's educational for her and she needed to learn for her future, so why not? It was her first childbirth so I did feel a tiny bit of pressure.... but that's just because I'm a people pleasing weirdo who didn't want to ruin childbirth forever for her by giving her a bad first impression. But it was really just like having another nurse there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-hospitals-vs-nonteaching-hospitals#post-68983 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:36:21 +0000 mrsjyw 68983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As we started our TTC journey, a few friends sent emails of good info... one friend mentioned a nearby hospital that she loved because it was one of the few that was a nonteaching hospital. While I appreciate her preference, I was wondering if there is a major difference since it will be your OB/GYN during birth... what are the major differences between them? </p>