Early Elective Deliveries Decreased
“The rate of early elective newborn deliveries — those before 39 completed weeks that are not medically indicated — declined on average from 17% in 2010 to 14% in 2011 among hospitals surveyed by the Leapfrog Group, a quality-improvement organization.
Furthermore, 39% of reporting hospitals in 2011 kept the rate of these problematic deliveries at or below 5% — a target set by Leapfrog — compared with 30% in 2010, according to survey findings released today.
The survey, however, turned up wide variation, with the rate of early elective deliveries at some hospitals topping 40%. And most reporting hospitals still fell short of the 5% target. Accordingly, Leapfrog said that more work needs to be done.
Leapfrog is a coalition of public and private purchasers of health insurance benefits that seeks to improve the quality of care while lowering the cost of care. Its members include large employers such as General Motors and FedEx and regional employer alliances.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other authorities caution pregnant women and their physicians against delivery by induced labor or cesarean delivery before the 39th completed week unless a condition such as maternal high blood pressure or pre-labor membrane rupture occurs. Babies need those last few weeks for their brains and lungs to fully develop. Delivering a baby before the 39th week can lead to short-term morbidities such as respiratory distress, temperature instability, and infection, as well as a higher mortality rate.”
