title: Maternity experiences in a managed care organization.
abstract: We conducted a telephone survey of female managed care enrollees who recently had a normal vaginal delivery to examine the relationship between hospital length-of-stay and maternal characteristics, pregnancy factors, length-of-stay preferences, and postdischarge experiences. Results indicated that length-of-stay varied by maternal characteristics and pregnancy factors. Length-of-stay and maternal or newborn readmissions were not statistically associated. Most respondents reported that they would be willing to go home within twenty-four hours after future deliveries if additional services were provided. Emphasis should be placed on which services can be provided to prepare and assist mothers through the perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: Prudential Center for Health Research, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gazmararian
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Koplan
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cogswell
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cutler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000592:standards*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States