Sixteen Michigan hospitals have high C-section rates

A new report by The Leapfrog Group highlights concerns over high C-section rates at hospitals in Michigan. Only 25% of the participating hospitals in the state met the recommended benchmark for cesarean deliveries among low-risk, first-time mothers. The report shows that C-section rates are rising, reversing progress made before the COVID-19 pandemic. Leah Binder, President and CEO of Leapfrog, emphasized the need to reduce these rates to protect the health of mothers and babies. C-sections can lead to various risks, including infections and complications in future pregnancies. In 2024, Michigan’s average C-section rate for low-risk mothers was 25.7%, above the benchmark of 23.6%. Only 25 out of 60 reporting hospitals achieved the goal, compared to 40.6% nationally. Some Michigan hospitals had rates as high as 40%, indicating a significant variation in care quality across the state. The report identified 16 hospitals with the highest rates of C-sections for this group. Corewell Health Lakeland in Niles reported the lowest rate at 5.9%. Meanwhile, some hospitals still need to improve their practices to reduce C-section rates. In addition to C-sections, the report revealed disparities in maternity care based on race. One in five hospitals noted differences in C-section rates between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black patients, highlighting the need for systemic change. The report also showed a significant drop in episiotomy rates from 2012 to 2024. Episiotomies, which involve surgical cuts during childbirth, decreased from about 12.5% to 3.4%. However, some hospitals had rates well above the recommended threshold of 5%. Leapfrog aims to improve transparency in maternity care. This transparency can help patients make informed decisions about their hospital choices. Patients can check ratings at Leapfrog’s website and are encouraged to ask their providers about participating in the survey if their hospital does not provide data.