Rates Of Major Obstetrical Complications Vary Almost Fivefold Among US Hospitals

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.1359
• Publication Date: 2014-08-04T21:44:06Z
• Authors: Laurent G. Glance; Andrew W. Dick; J. Christopher Gl...; Richard N. Wissler; Feng Qian; Bridget M. Marroquin; Dana B. Mukamel; Arthur L. Kellermann
• Keywords: Maternal morbidity; Cesarean delivery

Of the approximately four million women who give birth each year in United States, nearly 13 percent experience one or more major complications. But extent to which rates of obstetrical complications vary across hospitals States is unknown. We used multivariable logistic regression models examine variation complication outcomes US among a large, nationally representative sample than 750,000 deliveries 2010. found that 22.55 patients delivering vaginally at low-performing experienced complications, compared 10.42 similar high-performing hospitals. Hospitals were classified as having low, average, high performance based on calculation relative risk patient would complication. Patients undergoing cesarean delivery had five times rate (20.93 4.37 percent). Our finding varies markedly should prompt clinicians and policy makers develop comprehensive quality metrics for care focus improving outcomes.