VA Obstetrics Guide -- Get Your Doctor's and Hospital's Numbers

[Anonymous]

Found this via a listserve I'm signed up for and thought I would pass it along. Has info on every doctor in the state, with percentages for C-sections and episiotomies. Also has very detailed info on hospitals, including what services are offered at each one, charges, and average length of stay.

http://www.vhi.org/ob_guide/ob_intro.asp

FWIW, I did a quick run-through looking for providers whose C-section rate was well under 20% and episiotomy rate was under 5%. Almost none were in this area, and the ones I did find were in Loudoun and Prince William except for Regina Burton in Fairfax (13% c-section, 3.6% episiotomy). Of course, numbers can't tell the whole story -- Dr. Tchabo, who is legendary on this board for being pro-natural childbirth, has a 30% C-section rate and a 15% episiotomy rate. I assume that means there's sometimes a story behind the numbers.

OTOH, it was super interesting to see how many doctors have an INSANELY high episiotomy rate. This number, in particular, is something every woman should know about her care provider before giving birth, as many doctors do not ask permission to perform this procedure.

[Anonymous]

bump, so more women will see this. it's a great resource.

[Anonymous]

I wonder who is responsible for posting their statistics?

[Anonymous]

Thank you. Great but disturbing info. What on earth is my OB thinking with a 37% episiotomy rate??

[Anonymous]

Is anyone aware of a similar resource for DC hospitals & doctors?

[Anonymous]

No, there's no way to get this info for DC docs and hospitals because the DC Dept of Health doesn't collect it. All you can do it ask your doc and hospital directly and hope for an honest answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, numbers can't tell the whole story -- Dr. Tchabo, who is legendary on this board for being pro-natural childbirth, has a 30% C-section rate and a 15% episiotomy rate. I assume that means there's sometimes a story behind the numbers.

Does anyone have any ideas or insight why Dr. Tchabo's csection rate is so high? By the way, the 30% number is for primary csections - i.e., first time moms (for repeat csections his number is 76%). That number seems way, way higher than I would have expected given his reputation on this board. Does he take a lot of high risk patients or something?

[Anonymous]

Wow! This is eye opening! I wish I had seen this before an OB (not my own - one on call) gave me an episiotomy (claimed it was to get baby out once in distress) that turned into fourth degree! Doc has over fifty percent episiotomy rate!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, numbers can't tell the whole story -- Dr. Tchabo, who is legendary on this board for being pro-natural childbirth, has a 30% C-section rate and a 15% episiotomy rate. I assume that means there's sometimes a story behind the numbers.

Does anyone have any ideas or insight why Dr. Tchabo's csection rate is so high? By the way, the 30% number is for primary csections - i.e., first time moms (for repeat csections his number is 76%). That number seems way, way higher than I would have expected given his reputation on this board. Does he take a lot of high risk patients or something?

OP here: I wondered about that too, and assumed it meant that he takes on a lot of high-risk patients. I'm not sure if that would explain the episiotomy rate too, honestly that number shocked me just as much. Episiotomies are almost never medically indicated, and the evidence showing that they are more likely to cause problems than prevent then has been in for 15 or 20 years now. I'm appalled by how often they are still done.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Tchabo is known for his willingness and openness to unusual circumstances; ie vaginal breech deliveries, VBAC's, vaginal twin deliveries, etc. However, he is also known in the doula community to be quick with the episiotomy. It is always important to advocate for yourself regarding episiotomy, even if your doctor says that he does them "only when needed."