Exceptional maternity care noted at Kaiser Permanente San Jose

Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center is one of 107 hospitals named to the California 2023 Maternity Care Honor Roll for meeting the statewide target of cesarean sections for low-risk births leading to improved health outcomes for mothers and their newborns.

Childbirth is the number one reason for hospitalization in the U.S., according to the California Health Care Foundation. Overuse of C-sections can lead to serious health complications for both mother and baby and unnecessary C-sections are also considered a health equity issue since rates are higher among people of color.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is a leader in innovative approaches to maternal care and is working to improve equity in maternal health. Our hospitals are among the best in the country for meeting rigorous standards for maternity care, including low C-section rates, elective early deliveries, and for following important protocols to safely protect new mothers and their babies.

As part of our comprehensive prenatal care, our care teams work closely with our patients to deliver high-quality maternity care and reduce the risk of complications. If pregnant patients have a high-risk pregnancy or a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, we tailor their care to reduce risks. And mothers who choose to breastfeed get the support they need to be successful.

Last year, 43,177 babies were delivered at Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals.

“Our teams work hard every day to provide the highest-quality and safest care to our new mothers and their babies,” said Shanthi Margoschis, Kaiser Permanente San Jose’s interim senior vice president and area manager. “We’re proud to be recognized for the excellent care our Labor and Delivery teams provide to our patients.”

The 107 hospitals on the honor roll represent half of all 211 California hospitals that offer maternity services and participate in the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative’s Maternal Data Center.

Reducing c-section rates starts with the culture of the hospital, involving changes to physician practice patterns, education of nurses, support staff and families, and implementation of new policies within the facility, according to Cal Hospital Compare, which publishes the maternity care honor roll.

“We put out patients at the forefront of everything we do and want to make sure they receive the safest care possible,”” said Efren Rosas, MD, physician in chief of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center. “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our clinical care teams that care for our new mothers and their babies.”

In 2015, the California Health and Human Services Agency began recognizing hospitals that meet the 23.9% statewide target of C-sections for low-risk births through its Maternity Honor Roll. Beginning this year, CHC changed the C-section rate threshold for honor roll hospitals from 23.9% to 23.6% to align with the Healthy People 2030 goals. This year’s award reflects calendar year 2022 hospital discharge and birth certificate data.

For more information on the California 2023 Maternity Care Honor Roll visit https://calhospitalcompare.org/programs/maternity-care-honor-roll/