Cesarean Rates for Your Local Hospital
Expecting women are encouraged to investigate area hospitals before choosing where to birth. Sounds simple enough but the information is rarely readily available. A handful of great resources currently exist that made significant progress in gathering this information, the OurBodies blog, the Unnecessarean, and the Birth Survey. This article offers expecting families and birth professionals a comprehensive list of resources to find c-section information by hospital across America.
This article is part of a series of articles and blogs on evidence-based maternity care and finding up-to-date stats on the state of maternity care in your area. You can find the blog post on finding state and national obstetric statistics here.
As health care becomes more electronic, more and more information can be found online. You just have to know where to find it (many of the data sets are in strange places!). Thanks to the electronic age of healthcare, it is much easier to find cesarean statistics and, in some cases, vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean) information about YOUR local hospital. I've arranged links to the data sets, organized by state, below. I've also included notes on how to compute cesarean stats because many of the data sets are just that, raw data.
The data provided for each state can come in three varieties: raw data, computed and not risk-adjusted or computed-risk adjusted. The raw data is simply as it sounds and I have provided instructions for those states on how to calculate the cesarean rate. For the computed rates that are NOT risk adjusted, they are calculated with one of several methods and will provide you with a good resource for comparing hospitals within your state. The various methods may have different categories for birth types which make it difficult to compare percentages from state to state but are consistent within each state. The data that is the toughest to navigate is the last category: computed-risk adjusted. These rates are modified depending on the mom's potential "risk" to adverse outcomes. Researchers prefer this for their studies because it normalizes the data for their comparisons. The problem with that is that us moms are not researchers. We are interested in knowing which hospital is more prone to choosing surgery over other less invasive methods. This type of calculation might bring down a rate where high risk pregnancies are prevalent while bring up a rate at a hospital where the pregnancies are mainly low risk. Most states that are risk adjusted let you know but it is difficult to see how they are adjusted. If you would like to learn more about risk adjusted cesarean rates: click here.
The bottom line is that if you are comparing rates with in a state you will have a consistent date set to use. If you are comparing across states you may have to do more work to understand what went in to the rate calculation.
I am still searching for information for the following states: Arizona, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina. If you have a good source, please email me so I can update the list accordingly.
State |
Resource |
Notes |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Alabama |
Use "Births by Method of Delivery and Hospital of Occurrence with Cesarean Section and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Rates, Alabama" | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Alaska |
Alaska Department of Public Health Birth Statistics | Direct link, includes vbac stats |
|
Arizona |
Still Researching | |
|
Arkansas |
Hospital Consumer Assist | select "map", "choose county", "hospital", "inpatient pricing", to get cesarean rate add totals from the following codes: 765+766/ 765+766+774-775 |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
| California | Cal Hospital Compare | choose hospital and then click the maternity tab on the left; also includes episiotomy rates and breastfeeding rates |
|
California |
Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) | Choose the pdf of the latest year utilization indicators; also includes VBAC rates |
|
Colorado |
Colorado Hospital Association | use the latest Hospital Charges and Averages report. Search for the Cesarean Sectiona (APR-DRG 540) and Vaginal Delivery (APR-DRG 560) tables. To find c-section rate, divide csections by the sum of the csections and vaginal deliveries |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
| Delaware Health Statistics Center | Select "Top 25 APR-DRGs by Hospital or System;" the link opens an excel document. There is a worksheet for each hospital in Delaware. Cesarean rate is computed by dividing cesareans by the sum of vaginal births and cesareans. | |
| Still Researching | ||
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Florida |
Florida Health Finder | choose hospitals-inpatient care, then Hospital Performance, Health Outcome and Pricing Information, and then Search by medical condition/procedure, hit continue; select Deliveries (all ages) and Newborns; to find csection rate you'll have to divide total number of cesareans by the sum of cesareans and vaginal births |
| Georgia Price Check | Select age group and facility. Select condition category 14, childbirth. for cesarean rate divide the total cesareans (370) by the total cesareans and vaginal births (370+372+373+374+375) | |
| Still Researching | ||
| Still Researching | ||
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Illinois |
Health Care Report Card | choose county (this will allow you to select multiple facilities). After selecting the compare button you will have to go the box in the right column that displays your hospitals and hit compare again. In the dropdown at the top of the page, you can choose to compare cesarean section delivery, primary cesarean delivery rate, or vaginal birth after cesarean for your selected hospitals. |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Indiana |
Indiana State Department of Health | Complicated... will update instructions shortly |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Iowa |
ICAN of Northeastern Iowa | Direct link to raw data |
|
Iowa |
Iowa Hospital Association | Select city, hospital, "women's health" for service, "pregnancy/childbirth" for category; c-section rate will be number of cesarean deliveries divided by sum of cesarean deliveries, vaginal births, and vaginal births with sterilization |
| Still Researching | ||
| Kentucky Hospital Charge Information | select hospital(s), to compute c-section, plug in the totals of the designated msdrgs into this equation: 765+766/765+766+767+768+774+775; 768 is a rare msdrg and is often not reported. Simply assume it is zero. | |
| Louisiana Hospital Inform | select "obstetrics" for services provided and click search. Select hospitals to compare. Click "inpatient services" under "view reports" in the left sidebar. Csection rate = 765+766/ 765+766+774+775; the totals for each msdrg are found in the patients column in the Childbirth area | |
| Maine Health Data Organization | Choose hospital. To compute c-section rate, select "by drg". Csection rate = 765+766/ 765+766+767+768+774+775. |
|
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Maryland |
Maryland Hospital Pricing Guide | refer to charts 2 and 3 |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Massachusetts |
Massachusetts Population Health Statistics | Table 30, 31, and 32; includes VBAC rates |
| Still Researching | ||
| Minnesota Hospital Price Check | Select County and Hospital. Click "Inpatient Hospital Stay," Select "Obstetrics" category, to get cesarean rate add totals from the following codes: 765+766/ 765+766+774-775; not all codes are reported for every hospital, if they are not reported assume zero | |
| Mississippi Health Facilities Licensure | Choose the latest hospital report. Select the pdf and refer to appendix A | |
| Still Researching | ||
| Montana Hospital PricePoint | Select county and facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay." Compute cesarean rate by adding two types of cesareans and dividing by the sum of the two types of cesarean and four types of vaginal birth | |
| Nebraska Hospital Association's Care Compare | Select county and facility; select "Women's Health" and "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay." Compute cesarean rate by diving number of cesareans by the sum of the number of cesareans and the total of the two types of vaginal births | |
| Nevada Hospital Association Price Point | Select County or city; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. | |
| New Hampshire Price Point | Select County or city; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
New Jersey |
State of New Jersey Safety and Quality in Maternity Care | Scroll down to the section "Rating New Jersey Hospitals;" Select the most recent report. |
| NMHA PricePoint System | Select County or city; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
New York |
New York State Hospital Maternity-Related Procedures and Practices Statistics | Select County; Select Facility. Includes c-section, vbac and a whole host of obstetric intervention rates |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
| North Dakota Department of Health Vital Records | select the latest year from the "C-section Reports" dropdown | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Ohio |
Ohio Hospital Compare | select county and "pregnancy/childbirth;" add facilities on the left to the box on the right and then hit the "Compare Hospitals" button. Only shows "C-Section for low risk moms having their first baby" |
|
Ohio |
Ohio Public Health Information | From the sidebar on left, select "inpatient" and then "Diagnosis Related Groups." A disclaimer appears... hit "Diagnosis Related Groups" again. Select "by hospital(s)." Then select the most recent year, county(s), hospital(s), and "by drgs." when the dropdown appears, select all subcategories on the category "14, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium." You can select mulitiple options by holding the control key. Next add the "total number of discharges" from the box on the left to the box on the right and then hit "next." Select "DRGs by hospital" and click "view data." Compute cesarean rate by adding the sum of the cesareans and dividing by the sum of the cesareans and the vaginal births. |
| Oklahoma Hospital Pricing | Select County or city; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. | |
| Oregon Health Policy and Research | Select latest year and then "Pregnancy and Childbirth;" Click "Cesarean Delivery" and then select the hospitals. Note totals. Go back and select one of the two types of vaginal birth, select hospitals. Note totals and go back. Select other type of vaginal birth, select hospitals, and note totals. Cesarean rate will be total cesareans divided by the sum of the cesareans and both types of vaginal birth | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Oregon |
Oregon PricePoint System | Select County or city; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania Department of Health | under State/County Statistics, scroll down to "Method of Delivery;" Choose the latest year for C-sections (Totalls, Cesareans, VBACs) by Hospital |
| Rhode Island PricePoint System | Select City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. | |
| Still Researching | ||
| South Dakota Hospital PricePoint System | Select County; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the total cesarean sections by the sum of c-sections and the two types of vaginal birth. | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Tennessee |
Hospital Charge Data from the Department of Health Division of Health Statistics
|
Click the most recent "Hospital Charge Report." Scroll down through document and click DRG 540 "Cesarean Delivery;" Sum the totals for Minor, Moderate, and Major c-sections for your hospital(s) of interest; go back and click DRG 560 "Vaginal Birth;" sum the totals of minor, moderate and major vaginal births. The cesarean rate will be the total number of cesareans divided by the total number of cesareans and vaginal births. |
| Reports on Hospitals and Health Care | Select the most recent year for "Indicators of Inpatient Care;" scroll down to "Primary Cesarean Rate" and "Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), uncomplicated rate" Click on "table" and search for your hospital | |
|
Texas |
Texas Price Point | Select County or City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. |
| Utah Hospital Comparison Reports | Select most recent "Maternity and Newborn" report. You can compare "First Time Cesarean" and "Vaginal Birth after Cesarean" rates by hospital | |
|
Utah |
Utah PricePoint | Select County or City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the total cesarean sections by the sum of c-sections and the two types of vaginal birth. |
| Vermont Health Care Administration Hospital Report Cards | Click "Hospital Report Cards" on the right side of page; Select "Pricing and Financial Reports;" Select Table 1B: "Count of Top Inpatient Admissions;" Scroll down to MDC 14. Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the three or four types of vaginal birth. | |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Virginia |
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association PricePoint System | Select Region or City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. |
| The Unnecessarean | Direct link to compiled statistics | |
|
Washington |
Washington State Hospital Association Hospital Pricing | Select County; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. |
| West Virginia Health Statistics Center Birth Tables | Select "Method of Delivery;" includes cesarean rate, vbac rate, primary cesarean, and repeat cesarean | |
|
West Virginia |
West Virginia Health Care Authority Discharge Data | Select latest year; Select your hospitals of interest and then select the following DRG's: 765, 766 to get total cesareans; Click submit; Go back and select same hospitals and the following DRG's: 767, 768, 774, 775 to get total vaginal births. Cesarean rate will be total cesareans divided by the sum of the cesareans and vaginal births. This database is pretty cool because you can also figure out your hospital's rates for other obstetric interventions. For example, to find episiotomy rate, select hospitals, all the birth DRGs (765,766,767,768, 774, 775), and then under ICD-9-CM Principal Procedure, select 736 "Episiotomy." You could do the same for induction by selecting codes 7301, 7309, and 734. |
| Wisconsin PricePoint | Select County or City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the total cesarean sections by the sum of c-sections and the two types of vaginal birth. | |
|
Wisconsin |
Wisconsin CheckPoint | Select "Measure Reports by Topic;" Select "birth" and your hospitals to see Forceps, Vacuum Extraction, and Breastfeeding rates; note the total number of cesareans by clicking on the percentage of cesareans with labor and without labor (totals are at the bottom of the chart, n=###); Go back and click the "Birth Services and Education Report." Note the total number of births and compute the cesarean rate by dividing the sum of the cesareans by the total births. |
| Wyoming Hospital Association PricePoint | Select County or City; Select facility; select "Childbirth and Newborns" and "Mother's Hospital Stay". Compute c-section rate by dividing the sum of the two types of cesarean section by the sum of both types of c-section and the four types of vaginal birth. |
If you have other resources you feel I should add here, please let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Thanks!
***I spent hours compiling these resources and the instruction to locate and/or compute the necessary statistics. Please do not copy my work... simply link to this page!!!