Primary C-Section rate
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
RPW rate | 13.5% | 10.9% | 11.2% |
National rate | 21.5% | 21.8% | 21.9% |
Illinois rate | 20.8% | n/a | n/a |
Elmhurst Hospital rate | 18.2% | 19.7% | 17.6% |
Total C-Section Rate
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
RPW rate | 22.1% | 20.0% | 20.2% |
National rate | 32.0% | 31.9% | 32.0% |
Illinois rate | 31.0% | 31.1% | n/a |
Elmhurst Hospital rate | 28.3% | 30.8% | 27.0% |
We continuously evaluate how we practice to ensure we provide the best care possible. One marker that is tracked is our Cesarean section (C-section) rates. A primary C-section rate is the number of patients that have their first C-section divided by the total number of patients that have never had a previous C-section. It is important to keep this number low because C-sections are associated with greater risks to both mother and baby. Also, mothers who have already had a C-section face greater risks in their next pregnancy. Some C-sections are unavoidable because of the baby's or mother's condition, including if the baby is not delivering head first or the placenta blocks the opening. Elmhurst Hospital's primary C-section rate is below the national average, but our primary C-section rate is 25% below Elmhurst Hospital's rate and more than 40% below our peers at Elmhurst.
The total C-section rate is the number of patients having their first C-section + the number of patients that are having greater than or equal to their 2nd C-secton and then dividing this by the total number of patients having a baby. Mothers who have had a prior C-section may opt to avoid trying to deliver vaginally with their next pregnancy and plan to have a C-section, or those mothers might try to deliver vaginally again but ultimately fail. We offer most mothers a chance to deliver vaginally after a C-section, if they so choose. Our total C-section rate is 22% below Elmhurst Hospital's rate, 28% below our peers at Elmhurst and 33% below the national rate.
