Sutter Health improves maternal care

Sutter Health reduced unnecessary Cesarean sections by deploying a coordinated framework across its 16 labor and delivery departments. The Sacramento, Calif.-based system convenes an advisory council comprised of nursing and physician leaders from each hospital site every month. Teams share successful practices, review comparative C-section dashboards and identify opportunities for improvement. In addition, the system increased access to certified nurse midwives and integrated midwife-supported birth as a standard option for lower-risk patients since evidence shows midwifery models can safely lower C-section rates. Physicians, nurses and midwives also use a clinical toolkit outlining best practices for safe, low-intervention labor management. (AHA blog article, 5/18/26)