Ochsner Health has recently achieved significant recognition, as several of its hospitals have been named 2025 High Performing Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. This accolade highlights Ochsner's commitment to maternal health, marking them among the best facilities to provide quality care to expectant parents.
The award follows rigorous evaluations and measures performed by U.S. News, which began assessing maternity care hospitals back in 2021. Their assessments involve various metrics, such as birthing-friendly practices and rates of unexpected newborn complications. Hospitals are recognized for excelling in these areas, helping parents make informed decisions about maternity services.
Notably, Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans, which includes the Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank Campus and Ochsner Baptist, along with Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner and Ochsner LSU Health-St. Mary Medical Center, has earned the distinction. "This recognition as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care is a reflection of the trust our patients place in us and the unwavering dedication of our exceptional staff," shared Al Patin, CEO of Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.
The methodology for rankings by U.S. News involves objective quality measures such as assessing C-section rates for lower-risk pregnancies and evaluating the rates of severe unexpected newborn complications. Only half of the 817 hospitals evaluated made it to the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list, underscoring the prestige of this award.
Dr. Joseph Biggio, the System Chair for Women’s Services at Ochsner Health, remarked, "This ranking is a testimony to the compassion and expertise of our dedicated obstetricians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, pediatricians, family medicine physicians, and nurses who care for expecting mothers and their babies." These professional acknowledgments reinforce the systematic efforts undertaken by Ochsner's healthcare teams.
Ochsner Health's commitment to excellence doesn't stop with maternity care; they have also taken significant steps toward the future of healthcare delivery through technology and innovation. Recently, Ochsner joined major healthcare systems, including the Mayo Clinic and MedStar Health, to form the ATA Center of Digital Excellence (CODE). This initiative aims to advance the integration of digital care pathways.
According to Healthcare IT News, the ATA Center of Digital Excellence will encourage collaborative strategies among health systems to develop best practices for patient-centered care. Elissa Baker, who leads digital strategy and clinical innovation, emphasized the importance of promoting new digital health tools to improve clinical workflows and healthcare access.
"Telehealth is not an either/or solution but a notable addition to traditional care, addressing barriers where access is limited or nonexistent," stated Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA, during CODE’s announcement. By partnering with leading health systems, CODE seeks to establish integrated models of care delivery through innovative digital solutions.
The establishment of CODE is envisioned to stimulate collaboration among health systems, aiming for sustained growth and improvement of healthcare delivery. Through regular events and summits, insights and developments will be shared, contributing to published workflows and benchmarks within the healthcare community.
With both recognitions and expansions under its belt, Ochsner Health demonstrates its commitment to providing high-quality care to mothers and babies alike. Fewer than half the hospitals evaluated this year made the prestigious Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list, highlighting the excellence found within Ochsner’s facilities.
Lastly, the evaluation results reveal compelling data on the disparities between recognized and non-recognized institutions. Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., a health data scientist at U.S. News, remarked, "These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News." This distinction shows Ochsner's potential to lead and innovate within the field of maternity care.
Ochsner Health continues to strive for excellence, ensuring high standards of medical care and service delivery. With their recent accolades and advancements, the healthcare group stands poised to make significant contributions not just to maternity care but to the medical field at large.