American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 3 , Pages 336.e1-336.e5, March 2009

Provider documentation and elective induction of labor: a 6-month experience at a university medical center

Presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, New Orleans, LA, Oct. 22-25, 2008.

  • Lloyd D. Holm, DO

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Lloyd D. Holm, DO, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 983255 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-3255

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Received 11 June 2008; received in revised form 9 December 2008; accepted 29 December 2008.

Objective

This retrospective study investigated the documentation of clinical history that assured fetal lung maturity, presentation part, and gestational age by 3 provider groups (university obstetricians, family practice, and private obstetricians) before the elective induction of labor.

Study Design

This study was conducted at a large university-based medical center. All labor/delivery admissions (n = 1297) and all elective inductions of labor (n = 268) were reviewed. The variables that were compared included provider group vs delivery percentages, induction rates, and cesarean deliveries.

Results

Nine percent of elective inductions occurred before 39 weeks of gestation; 12.7% of the inductions lacked documentation of the presenting part; 17.6% of the inductions failed to meet any commonly accepted screening criteria that assured fetal lung maturity. Rates of elective inductions varied between 16% and 31% when the 3 groups of providers were compared (P < .0001).

Conclusion

Adequate documentation is lacking in electively induced patients. A statistically significant relation exists between provider group and clinical behavior as they relate to the elective induction of labor.

Key words: documentation, elective induction, quality assurance

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 Cite this article as: Holm LD. Provider documentation and elective induction of labor: a 6-month experience at a university medical center. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:336.e1-336.e5.

 Authorship and contribution to the manuscript is limited to the author indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.

PII: S0002-9378(08)02461-7

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.053

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 3 , Pages 336.e1-336.e5, March 2009

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