Reducing Unnecessary C-Sections Earns Tampa General Hospital Honors

TAMPA, FL — Tampa General Hospital has been recognized for exceeding national goals for reducing the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies and instead promoting vaginal deliveries.

Tampa General is one of just 26 delivery hospitals in Florida to achieve the distinction in 2022.

Florida has one of the highest cesarean section (C-section) rates in the U.S., leading to state and national efforts to promote safe vaginal deliveries. Tampa General achieved a C-section rate of 21.4 percent, exceeding the goal of 23.6 percent set by Healthy People 2030, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services women’s and children’s health initiative.

The current national cesarean delivery rate is 32 percent. The initiative is focused on preventing pregnancy complications and maternal deaths and helping women stay healthy before, during and after their pregnancies.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez visited Tampa General to present the hospital with an award for its continuing efforts to reduce unnecessary C-section deliveries and promote safe vaginal deliveries. She was joined by Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, and officials from the state Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health.

“Exceeding national goals for reducing unnecessary C-sections for two straight years is a tremendous recognition for all of those working with the Women and Children’s Institute at Tampa General,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “We are honored to receive this award from Lt. Gov. Nuñez and Surgeon General Ladapo as we continue on our journey to provide the safest and highest quality care in the country to mothers and their babies.”

In all, only 26 of 114 hospitals in Florida – or 29 percent of those participating – exceeded the national goals and are being recognized by the state.

“We are honored to see our primary hospital partner receive this recognition from the state,” said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health, dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a maternal-fetal medicine expert. “Obstetrician-gynecologists across the state are working together to safeguard women’s and children’s health by preventing unnecessary surgeries that carry increased risk.”

Cesarean deliveries can prevent injury and death in women who are at higher risk of having complicated deliveries or unexpected complications, including prevention of injury and death in their newborns.

C-sections are also linked to an increased risk of severe bleeding, infections, blood clots and complications in future pregnancies.

Some women who aren’t at higher risk for delivery complications may have unnecessary C-sections that lengthen their recovery times. That has prompted efforts at hospitals and by medical providers to help reduce the number of C-sections performed on low-risk mothers.

“The success in reducing the number of unnecessary C-sections is the result of ongoing close teamwork between Tampa General, OB/GYN physicians and midwives who deliver patients at the hospital,” said Dr. Karen Bruder, associate professor and director of the Division of Specialists in General OB/GYN, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and medical director of OB/GYN, Genesis Health at Tampa General.

She also credited the ongoing work of the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative at the USF College of Public Health, which has initiatives that focus on providing evidence-based perinatal care, education and training.

“Collaboration among our partners and our relentless emphasis on following best practices leads to better health care for women and children as reducing C-section rates for first-time mothers impacts their health and safety throughout their lifetime,” Bruder said. “I am delighted for the entire team who share in this award, but even more so for the impact we’re having on providing the safest care to mothers and their babies in the Tampa Bay region.”

Tampa General delivers more babies than any other hospital in Tampa Bay, with about 6,500 births at the hospital since Oct. 1, 2021, noted Dr. Judette Louis, James M. Ingram professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and medical director of the Women’s Institute at Tampa General Hospital. “Our success in preventing unnecessary C-sections in low-risk women once again underscores our commitment to the safety of our patients and sends a message to expectant mothers that where you choose to receive your prenatal care and deliver your baby really does matter.”

Along with this latest recognition, Tampa General Hospital has been ranked No. 1 in Florida and Top 50 in the nation in Obstetrics and Gynecology by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Hospitals, named a Best Maternity Hospital in 2022 by Newsweek, was one of only 15 hospitals in Florida recognized in 2021 for exceeding the national Healthy People 2030 goals for reducing unnecessary C-sections, and was also named a Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek and the Leapfrog Group in 2020.