Doing the best with what we have: we need better: informing obstetric policy with administrative data

Abstract

In this issue of Medical Care, Backes Kozhimannil and colleagues present data from the National Inpatient Sample on differences between rural and urban obstetric care. We applaud their efforts in examining this issue and agree that all women should be afforded safe deliveries, and ideally each woman’s experience would not be different. That being said, there are some practical considerations that must be applied to their analyses and recommendations. We would like to take this opportunity to capitalize on their efforts and speak to 2 other highly related implications for policy and practice.