C-Section Rates Vary Significantly at Calif. Hospitals, Leapfrog Finds
Many California hospitals last year performed medically unnecessary cesarean sections, according to a report by the Leapfrog Group, KPCC's "Impatient" reports.
Details of Report
The report sought to determine how often women with first-time, lower-risk pregnancies gave birth via C-section. Lower-risk pregnancies were defined as those that reached at least the 37th week and consisted of one fetus in the head-down position. More than 45% -- or 139 -- of the hospitals in California declined to respond to Leapfrog's survey (Plevin, "Impatient," KPCC, 10/14). In total, the report included 158 California hospitals (Shinkman, Payers & Providers, 10/15).
The report ranked 33 states on their C-section rates (Leapfrog Group report, October 2015). The states' rates were then measured against Leapfrog's goal of reducing the national C-section rate to 23.9%.
Report Findings
Overall, 100 hospitals had rates above Leapfrog's goal of 23.9%, and 58 were at or below the target.
In California, the average C-section rate for first-time, low-risk pregnancies was 25.7%, the 15th highest nationwide.
However, the rates varied significantly by facility. For example, the rate was:
- 11.2% at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton -- the state's lowest rate; and
- 40.2% at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport -- the highest confirmed rate in California (Payers & Providers, 10/15).