Cesarean delivery is the most common major surgical procedure performed in the United States.[1] In 2016, cesarean deliveries accounted for 31.9% of all deliveries or 1,258,581 births,[2] which represents a significant increase in the last several decades. The increase in the overall cesarean delivery rate without evidence of concomitant improvement in outcomes has generated concerns about the appropriate use of this route of delivery. Additionally, there is significant variation in cesarean delivery rates across regions and across hospitals, and evidence suggests that modifiable factors such as practice patterns among providers, hospitals, and health care systems may be contributing. By applying evidence-based principles in their practices and by helping to incorporate standardization in their hospitals and health systems, OB/GYN hospitalists can influence the incidence of cesarean delivery and the associated morbidity and mortality.
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