Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Medical Center Ranks First in Bergen County and 4th in NJ in Leapfrog C-Section Survey

Outperforms 92% of Scored Hospitals in the Nation

October 8, 2015

Holy Name Medical Center ranked first in Bergen County and 4th in New Jersey in a new Leapfrog C-Section Survey. The medical center surpassed Leapfrog's target rate of 23.9 percent, outperforming 92 percent of 3,403 hospitals nationwide in reducing the number of Caesarin births with a score of 16.1 percent, according to The Leapfrog Group, one of the country's highest grading nonprofit organizations.

Most hospitals have been trying to reduce the number of Caesarin births, which typically pose a greater risk of infection, result in longer hospitals stays and can amount to 50 percent higher costs compared to vaginal births. Overall, less than half – 39.1 percent – of scored hospitals nationwide met Leapfrog's target rate. Holy Name is one of only 13 hospitals in New Jersey to meet or exceed Leapfrog's standard.

"At Holy Name, doctors, nurses and maternal-child staff hold themselves to a higher standard to ensure safe short- and long-term outcomes for both mom and baby.” said Michael Maron, President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center. "Our staff is always sensitive to families' birth plans, which typically have been shown to lower C-section rates, and we're proud our efforts have gained us this national recognition."

During the last 40 years, C-section rates have been climbing steadily in the U.S., often for the convenience of the mother or physician.

"This means that far too many women are undergoing a major abdominal surgery without medical necessity – with all the risks that any surgery entails," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "The good news is that by reporting to Leapfrog these hospitals are transparent about this problem, which is an important step toward solving it."

There will always be cases where C-sections are medically required, said Debra Bingham, DrPH, RN, a member of Leapfrog's Maternity Care Expert Panel and vice president of Nursing Research, Education, and Practice at the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). "However, hospital leaders and clinicians need to reduce the number of women having major surgery who do not face a health risk to either herself or baby during labor and birth. The health care community must play an active role in educating women and their families on the risks associated with C-sections so they are able to make informed decisions."

The Leapfrog Group's findings came from its annual hospital survey, for which 1,122 hospitals reported a C-section rate. Endorsed by The Joint Commission, National Quality Forum (NQF), and CMS, the C-section measure identifies pregnancies that are unlikely to need surgical intervention during labor. The measure counts first-time pregnancies that have reached the 37th week or later mark (term) and consist of one fetus in the head-down position.

Leapfrog's panel of experts recommended an initial target rate of 23.9 percent. Each year, the panel will review the target rate to ensure hospitals are held to the highest standards of care.

Holy Name Medical Center was honored with an "A" grade from The Leapfrog Group, in its Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections.