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ROUND-UP: INCREASE IN C-SECTION DELIVERIES
Following are experts who can discuss the increasing number of C-sections performed in the U.S., as well as the implications for the health care system and for mothers and their partners:
**1. KEN KILPATRICK, education director of the POLITICALLY ACTIVE PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATION (PAPA): "The trend toward defensive medicine and C-section delivery has increased due to fears of litigation. Twenty-one states are in a medical liability crisis because the legal systems in those states allow and encourage frivolous lawsuits, suits that are filed due to negative outcomes that did not constitute malpractice. And, in many cases of alleged malpractice, everyone on the chart gets sued -- whether they saw the patient or not. This, in turn, has caused medical liability rates to skyrocket. Until Congress passes legislation that will stop trial lawyers from filing frivolous lawsuits, we can expect C-sections to continue to increase. Pennsylvania is up 1 percent each year, yet down in births. Maternity wards across the state have closed, and we are one of the worst medical malpractice crisis states in the country."
**2. BRETTE MCWHORTER SEMBER, co-author of "Your Plus-Size Pregnancy": "Half of all pregnant women are overweight or obese. Twenty-five percent of all births are C-sections, but plus-size women have twice as many as other moms. Many plus-size women have C-sections for failure to progress, but many are unnecessary. A 2004 study revealed that plus-size women tend to have naturally longer active labors (between 1 hour and 1-1/2 hours) and suffered no ill effects from the time difference. I recommend that all plus-size women discuss this with their health care providers and get some assurances that their bodies will have the opportunity to progress through a naturally longer labor as long as there are no warning signs."
**3. SHERI MENELLI, author of "Journey into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth": "An entire generation of childbearing women are being taught through television that birth is unpredictable and dangerous. This fear leads women to make poor decisions for their birth because of a heightened expectation of complications. When interventions seem the norm instead of the exception, women are quick to ask for them or accept the suggestions of an aggressive physician. Many women are also unaware that inductions, narcotic pain relief measures, epidurals and labor-enhancing drugs increase the likelihood of a Cesarean birth."
**4. TONYA JAMOIS, president of the INTERNATIONAL CESAREAN AWARENESS NETWORK, can discuss the factors driving the rising Cesarean rate, including the growing practice of hospitals forcing women with prior Cesareans into repeat Cesareans. She can also address the clinical risks of having a Cesarean, the downside of "elective" Cesareans and how women can avoid Cesareans. ICAN has over 70 chapters around the country, which provide mother-to-mother support for women recovering from Cesarean and preparing for vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC).
**5. TIM MCNAMARA, M.D. is the CMO of HEALTHGATE DATA CORP., which can provide consumers with an online, multimedia, evidence-based tutorial for Cesarean section procedures (in English or Spanish) that includes anatomy and physiology, possible reasons for procedure, treatments, the procedure, risks and benefits, and after-procedure care. McNamara also serves as assistant professor and medical director of the University of Kansas Medical Center's Center for Healthcare Informatics. With a combined 12 years of experience in medicine and IT product development, he has focused on creating technology- based solutions for improving the clinical process and patient care quality.
**6. JACQUES MORITZ, M.D., has been a member of the obstetrics and gynecology faculty at ST. LUKE'S ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL CENTER since 1995 and director of the gynecology division since 2000. In addition, he is an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY College of Physicians and Surgeons. Before arriving at St. Luke's Roosevelt, he held several positions as a medical news reporter and consultant for television, radio and print media. Moritz obtained his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine, and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
ROUND-UP: BIRD FLU (continued)
We've added the following to items posted previously at http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicI D=2385
**1. STEPHEN SNYDER, assistant professor of economics at LEHIGH UNIVERSITY: "Will there be enough vaccine to go around if there is an avian flu outbreak? No, but that's not the whole story. An interesting dilemma is whether richer countries should -- or will -- part with some of their stocks to try to control the spread at the source, or husband their stocks for providers and high-risk groups." Snyder can also speak about the development and supply chain implications of vaccines manufactured using non-traditional methods.
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**1. HEALTH MANAGEMENT: DISEASE MANAGEMENT COULD IMPACT FUTURE OF HEALTH COSTS. PAUL SERINI, executive vice president of XLHEALTH, which provides disease management services to physicians and chronically ill patients: "As baby boomers become Medicare-eligible in 2011, health care costs are projected to overwhelm state and federal governments already struggling to get their budgets under control. By 2030, Medicare enrollment is expected to exceed 70 million -- nearly double the current levels. Disease management, a systematic approach to improving health care for people with chronic illnesses, can significantly impact the future of health care budgets. While the cost of providing these services could be significant, ignoring the explosive number of aging baby boomers virtually guarantees a full-scale budget crisis."
**2. HEALTH MANAGEMENT: TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONFUSION SURROUNDS MEDICARE PART D. SAMUEL H. FLEET, president and CEO of NATIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COMPANIES (NEBCO), is an expert on Medicare D customer service: "There's a tremendous amount of confusion among seniors surrounding Medicare Part D, and HMOs need to be clear and concise in their messages with regard to the benefits of their plans."
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