Your clinical day at MFA balances the satisfying rhythms of outpatient prenatal care with the immediacy of labor and delivery. Morning clinic sessions might include first-trimester counseling visits, routine prenatal checks, and postpartum follow-ups, while an afternoon at the hospital finds you rounding on the OB ward or managing an active labor. This variety keeps your skills sharp and your workdays engaging. You will use the full scope of your training rather than narrowing into a subspecialty niche that limits your clinical breadth.
The patient population presents clinical complexity that makes for professionally rewarding practice. Many women arrive for prenatal care later than ideal, having lacked access to providers. You will manage higher-risk pregnancies, address social determinants that affect outcomes, and coordinate care across a healthcare system working to close gaps in maternal health. The cases are real, the needs are genuine, and your clinical judgment matters every day.
Your patients reflect Merced County's diverse agricultural community. Approximately 60% of your obstetric patients will be Hispanic, with a significant Punjabi and Indian population representing the region's Sikh farming community. Most patients carry Medi-Cal coverage, and many work in agriculture or related industries with schedules that can complicate appointment adherence. Understanding these realities helps you build a practice that meets patients where they are.
The hospital provides robust interpreter services to support your care. In-person Spanish interpreters are available until 9:00 PM daily, and Stratus phone interpretation covers all languages around the clock. You will never struggle to communicate with patients about critical decisions during labor or complex prenatal discussions.
You will take call for your own patients, maintaining the continuity that defines family medicine obstetrics. When your patient goes into labor, you manage the delivery. This model builds deep trust with patients who know their doctor will be there when it matters most. However, the practice recognizes that sustainable call requires flexibility. The hospital's 24/7 laborist service allows you to sign out coverage for vacations, personal time, or when you simply need a break. You control when to hand off and when to stay engaged.
The specific call frequency remains subject to discussion based on your preferences and the group's needs. Leadership has been clear they want providers committed to building a practice, not shift workers, but they also understand that reasonable call expectations support long-term retention. The laborist backup means you will never feel trapped or unable to take time away.
Mercy Medical Center's Labor and Delivery unit provides a well-equipped environment for managing deliveries across the acuity spectrum. The unit includes 10 labor rooms, 2 triage rooms, 4 postpartum rooms, and a dedicated operating room for cesarean sections. The Level 2 NICU, staffed by pediatric hospitalists, supports newborns requiring additional monitoring or intervention without routine transfer to higher-level facilities.
The nursing staff knows obstetrics and will become trusted partners in your practice. The unit handles approximately 2,400 deliveries annually, meaning nurses maintain sharp skills and can anticipate your needs during both routine and emergent situations. An active midwife program provides additional collaborative support, with plans to expand midwifery services that complement physician-led care.
Your clinic sessions run efficiently with one to two medical assistants assigned consistently to your schedule. Having the same support staff daily builds workflow familiarity and reduces friction in patient care. Front desk staff manage scheduling and check-in, while centralized billing and administrative services handle the paperwork that can burden smaller practices.
MFA clinics use Athena Health, a web-based EMR that allows remote access and straightforward documentation. The hospital operates on Cerner with remote access capabilities, so you can review inpatient records and manage patients from home when needed. Neither system will feel unfamiliar if you have trained in modern residency programs, and the IT support helps with any transition challenges.
MFA's Faculty Services Agreement with Dignity Health creates optional academic involvement. You can precept Family Medicine residents at their outpatient clinic, typically one session weekly, gaining the intellectual stimulation of teaching while shaping the next generation of physicians. Residents rotate through MFA clinics, so you will interact with trainees even if you choose not to formally precept.
Teaching income falls under the Type A compensation structure at 83% to the physician, meaning academic work pays well. For physicians who enjoy education, this represents meaningful engagement. For those who prefer pure clinical practice, the teaching responsibilities remain negotiable and can be minimized, particularly during your first year as you establish your patient panel.
The hospital continues investing in maternal health infrastructure. An OB nurse navigator position launches in summer 2026, specifically focused on high-risk patient follow-up and care coordination. This resource will help you manage complex patients, reduce no-shows, and improve outcomes for women who face barriers to consistent care. Prenatal education classes run via online and Zoom formats, meeting patients where they are, and postpartum support groups provide continuity of care beyond delivery.
These investments signal organizational commitment to obstetric services and recognition that comprehensive support improves both patient outcomes and provider satisfaction.
You will practice medicine the way it should be practiced: knowing your patients, delivering their babies, and watching families grow over years of care. The clinical environment supports this vision with adequate staffing, reasonable technology, and a hospital system investing in the services you provide.