Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Eliminating Elective Inductions

Cox Health System's (Springfield, Mo.) medical leadership created a list of medical indications that, if met, allowed physicians to schedule inductions prior to 39 weeks. Any exceptions have to be approved by the OB chief or perinatologist.

“Our ultimate goal was to improve neonatal outcomes,’ explains Rhonda Donnelly, nurse manager for labor and delivery. Since putting in place the mandatory hard stop, CoxHealth has had no admissions to the NICU for babies born through elective inductions prior to 39 weeks. Also, during this period, the cesarean rate on elective inductions has decreased from 17.8 percent to 10.4 percent.