Key Findings

How did Utah quality of care compare with the nation in 2005?

Patient Safety Indicators

Utah overall (as a state) did better than expected on three patient safety indicators, compared to other similar hospitals in the U.S. that treat similar mothers and newborns. 
Specifically, Utah overall did better than expected with injuries to the newborn, injuries to the mother during a delivery without instruments and injuries to the mother during a delivery with instruments. 

Most Utah hospitals (23 out of 38) at which 30 or more babies were born had fewer than expected for injuries to the newborn in 2003 through 2005. That is, each of these hospitals had fewer of these injuries than other similar U.S. hospitals that treated similar patients, adjusted for the baby’s sex.  One hospital had more injuries to newborns than expected.  The remaining 16 hospitals did about as expected, that is, about the same as similar hospitals that treated similar mothers and newborns.

The definition of this indicator changed in late 2003. Prior to October 2003, “head molding” might have been included in the indicator. “Newborn head molding” is an abnormal head shape that occurs from pressure on the baby’s head during delivery. This is not a serious condition and the baby’s head often returns to its normal shape in a few days.

One quarter of Utah hospitals (6 out of 24) at which 30 or more babies were born had fewer than expected injuries to the mother during a delivery with instruments in 2005.  That is, each of these hospitals had fewer of these injuries than other similar U.S. hospitals that treated similar patients, adjusted for the mother’s age and comorbidities (other conditions affecting her pregnancy and delivery).  One hospital had more of these injuries than expected.  The remaining 17 hospitals did about the same as expected.

Over half of Utah hospitals (19 out of 37) at which 30 or more babies were born had fewer than expected injuries to the mother during a delivery without instruments in 2005. That is, each of these hospitals had fewer of these injuries than other similar U.S. hospitals that treated similar patients adjusted for the mother’s age and comorbidities (other conditions affecting her pregnancy and delivery). Two hospitals had more of these injuries than expected. The 16 remaining hospitals did about the same as expected.

Note: Many factors can affect in-hospital injuries at a particular hospital.  Read more in About the Report.

Utilization Indicators

• 10.1% of deliveries in Utah hospitals were first-time Cesarean deliveries.
  
• 18.6% of women with a previous Cesarean delivery had vaginal births.

Note: Many factors can affect in-hospital procedures at a particular hospital, such as the health of the mother and baby, or the availability of hospital specialists and facilities.  Currently, the health care community does not have an agreed-upon benchmark for the optional rates for first-time Cesarean and VBAC deliveries. 

How did hospital charges differ among Utah hospitals in 2005?

Average hospital charges for the maternity and newborn cases in this report differed widely. For those at the minor/moderate illness level, average hospital charges ranged from:

• $857 to $2,039 among 38 Utah hospitals that reported charges for newborns with a birth weight over 2499 grams (about 5.5 pounds) (APR-DRG 640).

• $2,660 to $5,809 among 38 Utah hospitals that reported charges for vaginal delivery (APR-DRG 560).

• $3,949 to $9,270 among 36 Utah hospitals that reported charges for vaginal delivery with dilation and curettage (D&C) and/or sterilization (APR-DRG 541).
• $4,936 to $14,408 among 38 Utah hospitals that reported charges for Cesarean delivery (APR-DRG 560).

As expected, average hospital charges for maternity and newborn cases where the severity was considered major/extreme were higher than cases where the severity level was considered minor/moderate 

Note: Many factors will affect hospital charges. Read more in About the Report.