REDLANDS, Calif. (February 26, 2016) – Redlands Community Hospital has received a “superior” rating in a 2014 report on Cesarean sections by the California Hospital Assessment and Reporting Task Force (CHART), the highest rating approved by the multi-stakeholder state group. It is the only hospital in San Bernardino County to earn a “superior” rating.

The task force analyzed 2014 state data from 244 hospitals on C-sections performed on first-time moms with low-risk pregnancies, which includes mothers who have reached the 37th week or later with one fetus in the head-down position. This type of pregnancy is called Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex (NTSV).

In 2014, Redlands Community Hospital had 838 NTSV births and had 20.3 percent NTSV C-section births. Redlands rate was six percent lower than the national average. All other San Bernardino County hospitals earned below-average or average ratings.

“New mothers and their safety are our prime concern in our Labor, Delivery & Recovery Unit,” said Jim Holmes, president and CEO of Redlands Community Hospital. “Our maternity staff strives to provide moms and babies with highly compassionate care while avoiding unnecessary C-sections. The rating we received reflects our values at Redlands Community Hospital to put the patient’s health and safety needs first and foremost.”

Even low-risk pregnancies can result in complications, and when these occur, C-sections can save lives. However, medical experts say that this procedure is performed too often when not medically indicated. Some of the risks associated with C-sections include bleeding, infection, blood clots and injury to other organs. Experts say that after a woman has had the surgery, she is very likely to have future C-section births, and that brings the risk of additional complications. For more information about Redlands Community Hospital, please visit www.redlandshospital.org or call (909) 335-5500.

Redlands Community Hospital is an independent not-for-profit, stand-alone hospital.

# # #