Dignity Health Memorial Hospital Among Top 5 Hospitals in the Nation with the Lowest C-Section Rates

BAKERSFIELD, CA – July 12, 2017 – A Consumer Reports investigation of more than 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. revealed that Memorial Hospital ranked number 5 in the Nation for large hospitals, lowering their C-Section rate to 13%. C-section rates for low-risk deliveries in the U.S. vary dramatically from hospital to hospital. The report found 203 U.S. hospitals had low-risk C-section rates of 18.4 percent or less. The top 16 hospitals in the nation had C-section rates of 17 percent or less, according to Consumer Reports. The national average C-Section rate 25.8 percent and the national target, set by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is 23.9 percent. Memorial Hospital averages a C-Section rate of 13%.

Memorial credits their 24 hour OB hospitalist program which was started in 2012 and is the only program in the area, with helping them achieve such low C-Sections rates. The OB Hospitalist serve as a safety net for labor and delivery and are available in emergencies in the event there's an immediate need for an OB/GYN.

About Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is a 426 bed acute care medical center offering a full range of services including the Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center, The Grossman Burn Center at Memorial Hospital, expanded maternity and family care, the Lauren Small Children’s Center, orthopedic services, 24-hour emergency care and general/outpatient surgery. Memorial Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and is home to the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House. Memorial Hospital is a member of Dignity Health and is a trusted community partner, serving residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with quality care since 1956.