Why Birth Centers?
To Start
The first birth center in the US was opened in New York in 1975. There are currently over 400 birth centers. Numerous studies have shown birth centers to be safe including The Birth Center Study (2013).
Since opening our first birth center in 2016, Birth Partners, INC has confirmed that outcomes in our high-value, high-functioning centers are safe, if not safer, for low-risk patients compared to similar patients that deliver in the hospital.
Cesarean section rates in the United States continue to be very high. The cesarean section rate in the US in 1972 was 4.4%. World Health Organization has concluded that rates higher than 10-15% are generally not associated with maternal neonatal or infant mortality improvements. The average cesarean section rate, depending on the state, ranges from 30 to 35% in the United States. Cesarean section rates for low-risk patients in our birth centers is 5%, much less than the average US population.
The average difference in cost between a hospital vaginal delivery and a cesarean section is $13,358.
Preterm Birth
March of Dimes recently downgraded the US to a D+ scorecard because the premature delivery rate in the United States is 10.5%. We know that this can be better. The Strong Start Study conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) showed that patients undergoing prenatal care and delivery in birth centers had a much lower preterm delivery rate than comparable patients in regular Obstetric/Midwifery care in the hospital.
BPI birth centers have a preterm delivery rate of 4%.
The average cost difference for the care of a preterm baby is $55,000.
NICU Admission
Birth centers have been shown to reduce NICU admission rates compared to regular hospital deliveries. NICU admission rates in our BPI birth centers are 2.5% compared to the 5.61% nationwide average.
The average cost difference per baby is $7000.
Patient Satisfaction
No issue is more important to BPI than patient-related outcomes. Patient satisfaction scores are consistently over 99% in all our centers.
Episiotomy rates at the time of vaginal deliveries are a very high patient dissatisfier. Only 0.4% of patients that give birth in our centers get an Episiotomy compared to the national average of 30%
US Maternal Mortality Crisis
We rank 10th among all ten wealthy countries for maternal mortality outcomes. Our Maternal mortality rate has continued to get worse over the last few years. Aspen Health Strategy Group believes increasing access to midwifery care and birth centers will help reduce maternal mortality by 2030.
High-quality and high-value birth centers are pivotal in reducing maternal health outcome disparities. Birth centers also reduce social determinants' impact on maternal health care. We agree with companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of America that have birth centers as one of the top 10 ways to improve maternal health equity.
Our philosophy at Birth Partners Inc. is that birth centers serve the interest of our families best when they integrate into a local health system, including specialist access when needed, as is recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. ACOG designates accredited birth centers as the first line of care for low-risk patients.
Cost Savings
Healthcare costs continue to skyrocket. Both public and private payers are all too familiar with maternal and childcare expenses. Employers typically pay the most insurance costs for women of childbearing age. We know that childbirth costs are the most of any category of in-patient care Hospital costs.
Compared to low-risk patients that deliver in a hospital, BPI Centers have proven direct savings to payers of over $4.5 million per year, with much higher indirect savings.
Birth Partners Inc Centers meet the quadruple aim goal of Improving healthcare by providing access to high quality and high-value birth centers.
Improve Individual Patient Care
Improve Population Health
Reducing Per capita Costs
Improving the work-life of healthcare providers