U.S. News: Meritus a maternity care high-performing hospital

The hospital is also one of 118 to provide maternity services in underserved areas

Meritus Medical Center is pleased to be named a High Performing hospital in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report.

The publication’s annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings also recognized Meritus as one of 118 Maternity Care Access Hospitals, which provides maternity services in areas that would otherwise lack access to such care.

“This designation is a testament to the dedication of our skilled team members in our Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum unit,” said Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., Meritus chief operating officer. “Their commitment to our patients truly reflects our mission of improving the health of our community.”

U.S. News asked hospitals to provide data for certain procedures and conditions related to maternity care. Hospitals that scored well on multiple measures were recognized as High Performing. High Performing hospitals had fewer C-sections, fewer severe newborn complications than other hospitals, had a low episiotomy rate, had higher rates of breast milk feeding, and more, according to the publication.

This is the second year that Meritus has been designated a Maternity Care Access Hospital. To qualify, U.S. News included hospitals that were the only ones providing maternity care in their counties, and that had fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births. In addition, the publication included hospitals that were the only hospital within a 15-mile radius in a county with fewer than 128 obstetric providers per 10,000 births.