New admissions guidelines, policy changes result in fewer c-sections, lower costs.

Hospitals can reduce the rate of costly cesarean births by revamping admissions policies for women in labor and revisiting other labor-related policies. Lawrence (MA) General Hospital overhauled most of its obstetrics department's policies in an effort to cut back on c-sections. Tougher admissions guidelines, fewer inductions, and encouraging women to get out of bed and walk around more all contributed to cutting the hospital's c-section rate to 17% from a high of 26% in 1993. Learn how your facility can have similar results.