Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Medical Center Recognized with Award for Excellence in Reducing Cesarean Section and Episiotomy Rates by The Leapfrog Group and Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

January 7, 2025

Holy Name is pleased to announce the medical center has been recognized with an Award for Excellence in Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) Cesarean Section and Episiotomy Rates by The Leapfrog Group, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. The NTSV rate is used to assess the rate of c-sections in a low-risk patient population and is a measure of the quality of perinatal care. The Leapfrog Group showcased Holy Name's Obstetrics and Gynecology Department's achievements during the nonprofit's recent Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner in Maryland.

For the first time, Leapfrog accepted abstracts to be considered for poster sessions, which summarize physicians' best practices and outcomes, at their annual meeting. More than 50 abstracts were submitted, and Holy Name's was deemed the top performance improvement due to these best practices. The poster sessions featured case studies from hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers on specialty care (maternity care, pediatric care, critical care), patient rights, surgical safety and quality, and patient safety.

"It is an incredible honor to be recognized for our strategic approach to reducing C-section and episiotomy rates and for achieving significant improvements so quickly," says Jason Kanos, MD, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Holy Name. Our results show that sustaining an acceptable rate for the NTSV Cesarean sections and episiotomies is possible by supporting proven quality measures. We are guided by our goal to provide the highest quality experience for women and their families and continually identify how we can further improve quality of care."

Vasantha Kondamudi, MD, Chief Medical Officer; Jason Kanos, MD, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Angelica Mercado, Director of Quality, Safety, and Infection Control; and Maria Orozco, Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager, attended the annual meeting on Holy Name's behalf to share the research findings and accept the award.

In its 2023 State of Maternity Care in the U.S. Report, Leapfrog noted maternal care interventions like cesarean sections, episiotomies, and early elective deliveries can present a host of dangerous complications like blood clots, infections, and longer recovery.

In 2022, Holy Name's C-section rate was 33.3%, and the episiotomy rate was 16.76%, which exceeded national guidelines. The numbers highlighted the need for targeted improvements to ensure optimal patient care.

A multidisciplinary team implemented changes in education, clinical culture, data transparency, provider performance, and monitoring. Laborists and perinatal safety nurses were integrated into the patient-centered care model. The team attending daily patient rounds was expanded to include Dr. Kanos as well as laborists. Two years after implementing these new best practices, Holy Name's C-section and episiotomy rates fell to 26.29% and 4.31%, respectively. In addition, Holy Name's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services patient experience score increased from 3 to 4 stars.

Dr. Kondamudi says, "Dr. Kanos and the obstetrics team's dedication to evidence-based practices and patient-centered care has enhanced clinical outcomes and strengthened our patients' trust in us. This achievement exemplifies the excellence and collaboration that define our hospital."

Members of Holy Name's Obstetrics and Gynecology Department attended The Leapfrog Group recent Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner in Maryland. Holy Name was recognized with an Award for Excellence in Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) Cesarean Section and Episiotomy Rates by The Leapfrog Group, L-R: Dr. Jason Kanos,Chairman, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maria Orozco, Manager, LDRP; Dr. Vasantha Kondamudi, EVP and Chief Medical Officer; Angelica Mercado, Director of Quality, Safety & Infection Control; Melissa Sylvestre, RN Perinatal Safety