Unless it's medically necessary, delivering a baby early puts the newborn at a greater risk of disabilities and even death. But many Pennsylvania hospitals seem to be ignoring that fact
A new report shows that the number of early elective deliveries dropped from 14 to 12 percent across the nation last year. But statistics show, here in Pennsylvania, 26-percent of the babies were delivered before they were considered fullterm, although it wasn't medically necessary. That's the highest rate in the nation.
Geisinger Health System was the only hospital in our region reporting its early delivery rates.
And the medical system says it hasn't done any early elective deliveries since April 2011.
Geisinger says its rate is due to a complete cultural change in its obstetrics department.
Requests for early elective deliveries are subject to a rigorous analytic process, including attention from the Chairman of Women's Health at Geisinger. If requests are found to have no medical necessity, they are denied.
A new report shows that the number of early elective deliveries dropped from 14 to 12 percent across the nation last year. But statistics show, here in Pennsylvania, 26-percent of the babies were delivered before they were considered fullterm, although it wasn't medically necessary. That's the highest rate in the nation.
Geisinger Health System was the only hospital in our region reporting its early delivery rates.
And the medical system says it hasn't done any early elective deliveries since April 2011.
Geisinger says its rate is due to a complete cultural change in its obstetrics department.
Requests for early elective deliveries are subject to a rigorous analytic process, including attention from the Chairman of Women's Health at Geisinger. If requests are found to have no medical necessity, they are denied.
