Study shows UMC performs fewest C-Sections in El Paso
By Victor R. Martinez, El Paso Times, Texas | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Consumer Reports analyzed more than 1,500 hospitals in 22 states, including 133 in
"There should always be a conversation about the different options between the consumer and their provider," said
The report indicated many hospitals in
The five
The ratings, the consumer magazine's first on frequency of C-section deliveries versus vaginal births, were released Thursday.
The study shows dramatic variation in the percentage of women who have their babies delivered through a surgical incision using a cesarean section -- even between hospitals in the same community.
For example, at
"The thing that was shocking was the big range in C-section rates through out the country," Peter said. "The lowest C-section rate was 4 percent and the highest was 57. That's an enormous difference."
C-sections are the second most commonly performed surgical procedure in this country and, overall, are very safe, Consumer Reports said.
According to the ratings, UMC received a 15 rating, Las Palmas a 28 rating, Providence-Memorial 29,
In
"Women are physiologically designed to have a vaginal birth," said
Perez said UMC has delivered 435 babies through C-section, less than 24 percent of all births.
"It's rare that a woman is encouraged to have a C-section in lieu of delivering vaginally," Perez said. "
Perez said communication between the doctor and expectant mother is also critical.
"What we also have here that no other hospital has are certified nurse midwives," she said. "With the midwives, their cesarean rate is probably less than 10 percent. The physicians or the certified nurse midwives have that rapport with their patient and they discuss the options."
Peter said the hospital ratings can help people compare hospitals in their community based on C-section rates.
"The hospitals aren't doing the C-sections, the doctors are and that's who you should be interacting with," she said. "If you look at your hospital and it has a high rate, talk to your doctor and tell them if you really want to avoid a C-section, how can you work together."
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