SVH Recognized For Low C-Section Rate

November 4, 2016

Sonoma Valley Hospital has been recognized by Smart Care California, a state health care coalition, for its low C-section rate. SVH’s rate of 15.5 percent for low-risk, first-time cesarean deliveries was among the lowest of the 104 California hospitals recognized by the group.

In making the announcement with Smart Care California, California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley said, “One of the most important things we can do to make California’s health care system smarter is to help hospitals, physicians and nurses ensure that C-sections are only performed when medically necessary. Today’s award recipients represent an honor roll of California hospitals and their clinicians who are leading the way toward safer births and healthier babies and mothers.”

“We’re very proud of the Birthplace and the high quality service it provides,” said Kelly Mather, SVH CEO. “Recently, another group, California Hospital Compare, not only gave us high marks for our C-section rate, but also noted our high breastfeeding rate.”

The California program is part of a national initiative to reduce C-section births. According to information provided by California Health and Human Services Agency, between 1997 and 2015, California’s overall C-section rates increased sharply, from 1 in 5 births (21%) to nearly 1 in 3 (32.2%). During that same period, low-risk, first-birth C-sections increased from 19 percent to 25.6 percent. While potentially life-saving in certain circumstances, unnecessary C-sections can pose serious health risks for babies and mothers. C-sections also cost on average 50 percent more than vaginal deliveries, burdening patients and the health care system as a whole with unnecessary costs.

To respond to the rapid rise in unnecessary C-sections, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set a Healthy People 2020 goal of reducing nationwide C-section rates for low-risk, first-births to 23.9 percent. The recent awards, which will be given annually, acknowledge California hospitals that have achieved — and in many cases gone beyond — that goal.

Smart Care California is a public-private partnership working to promote safe, affordable health care in California.