Hospitals in the Sutter Health network, which have among the lowest cesarean section (C-section) rates in California, were recognized today by the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) for reducing cesarean births for first-time moms with low-risk pregnancies.

Fourteen hospital campuses in the not-for-profit health care network were named to the state’s 2021 Maternity Care Honor Roll, seven of which have been recognized on this honor roll for six consecutive years. Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of CHHS, announced the honor roll recognition on behalf of Cal Hospital Compare, a performance reporting initiative informed by representatives from hospitals, purchasers, health plans, and consumer groups. The following Sutter hospitals were named to the 2021 Maternity Care Honor Roll:

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus
• California Pacific Medical Center
• Eden Medical Center
• Memorial Medical Center
• Memorial Hospital Los Banos
• Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
• Sutter Coast Hospital
• Sutter Davis Hospital
• Sutter Delta Medical Center
• Sutter Lakeside Hospital
• Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
• Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
• Sutter Roseville Medical Center
• Sutter Tracy Community Hospital

“I congratulate these hospitals and providers for their work in reducing medically unnecessary C-sections,” said CHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “With the impact of COVID-19 on our health care community, it’s especially important to celebrate exemplary hospital performance.”

When complications arise during pregnancy, C-sections can save the lives of mothers and infants, but some women undergo the surgery for no medical reason, exposing both mother and baby to potentially avoidable risks. To respond to the rise in unnecessary C-sections, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adopted the Healthy People 2020 target of reducing nationwide C-section rates for low-risk, first-births to 23.9 percent. The Maternity Care Honor Roll acknowledges hospitals that have achieved—and in many cases gone beyond—that goal. The Sutter Health system NTSV C-section Rate for a rolling 12 months ending August 31, 2021 was 21.3 percent, below the 23.9 national goal.

“Over the last decade, Sutter Health has developed and implemented many programs to improve the care and safety of mothers and babies through pregnancy, labor and delivery,” said Sutter Health Vice President and Chief Quality & Safety Officer Bill Isenberg, M.D. “We’ve worked hard to enhance quality and safety at our hospitals to ensure we have among the lowest C-section rates in California—so it’s especially gratifying to receive recognition for leadership in this area.”

Sutter affiliated hospitals consistently outperform state and national averages for many measures of quality, and Sutter Health is committed to accurately and transparently sharing quality data with patients. The Sutter Health Hospital Quality Dashboard allows patients to learn more about the care provided throughout Sutter’s integrated network. In addition, patients are encouraged to talk with their doctors and nurses about any questions or specific outcomes related to their care.