Re: America's Best Hospitals: 2009-10 Originally Posted by lamazeteacher 
High c/s rates can reflect more on the index of risk in the population served. What do you mean by "medicalized"?
Some of the management protocols in the standard understanding of the term "medicalized" birth = liberal use of medical intervention without indication, as standard protocol, lack of labor support, lack of support of women who wants to attempt labor without meds, keeping all women on their backs throughout labor, stirrup deliveries only, episotomy without indication, low tolerance for indication for pitocin use, low tolerance for calling c/s's, no VBAC's, elective induction and c/s's without indication, strict protocol for continuous FHR monitoring only, directive pushing only - in otherwords you don't assessment at the needs of individual women - you just put them through the mill.
This hospital serves very rich people, with average to low health risk. This is a standard tertiary care hospital that takes pt's of all levels, therefore should reflect the norm. Their c/s rates are high even by NYC standards. I wouldn't send my worst enemies to labor over there.
We were actually the very first hospital to be recognized for Magnet Status. Great facility.
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