The delivery of high-quality obstetric and gynecologic care requires the establishment of efficient systems that can fulfill certain functions regardless of whether the care is provided in a hospital or an ambulatory setting.

Such systems should support health care providers with essential human and material resources and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. How practitioners define their scope of practice will affect how their office is organized and managed.

Common to all medical practices are certain principles and processes necessary to maintain an efficient and safe atmosphere in which to provide services. The following sections review principles of management for the organization of facilities and equipment, infection control procedures, sup­port services, and information and practice management systems may be applied regardless of the size of the office or clinic or the scope of women’s health care to be administered.