CVMC Earns National 'High Performing' Status for Maternity Care by U.S. News

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) was named this week as a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. CVMC was the only hospital in the Unifour region to earn this distinction.

U.S. News evaluated hospitals from across the nation that provide labor and delivery services and submitted detailed data to the publication for analysis; 680 hospitals, an all-time high, participated in this year’s U.S. News survey. The evaluation assists expectant parents, in consultation with their doctors, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care.

“Hospitals that receive a High Performing designation as part of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care meet a high standard in caring for parents with uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals have C-section rates that are 26 percent lower, and newborn complication rates that are 37 percent lower than unrecognized hospitals that participated in the survey.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.

Michelle Lusk, Chief Nursing Officer at CVMC, said, “This distinction highlights the amazing care that our team provides to mothers, babies and families.”

Jackie Miller, CVMC assistant vice president who oversees the Women & Children’s service line, added, “We are proud to be recognized for this prestigious award. Our staff and providers in the Birthing Center are outstanding and work together to provide the best environment to have a baby.”

For more information about CVMC’s Women & Children offerings, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/women-children.