Five Atrium Health hospitals have been named to Newsweek’s 2021 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals. Atrium Health Cabarrus, Atrium Health Cleveland, Atrium Health Pineville, Atrium Health Stanly and Atrium Health Union were among the 217 hospitals across 36 states recognized for providing high-quality care to mothers and newborns. Atrium Health hospitals accounted for 20 percent of North Carolina hospitals who made this prestigious list.

Facilities recognized by Newsweek on its Best Maternity Care Hospitals list have low rates of early elective delivery, cesarean delivery and episiotomy, and follow important protocols to protect the health of moms and babies.

“We are grateful to Newsweek for recognizing many of our Atrium Health maternity facilities as among the nation’s best hospitals when it comes to providing maternity care,” said Dr. Suzanna Fox, Atrium Health Women’s Care enterprise leader and Greater Charlotte Region medical director. “This honor reflects the hard work, dedication and compassion by all of our comprehensive teams in providing exceptional maternity care. Our patients should be comfortable knowing they are receiving the best care available. We will continue our commitment to exceeding our patient’s expectations for an extraordinary experience.”

Atrium Health Women’s Care is home to one of the most expansive OB/GYN teams in the nation, comprised of board-certified specialists in every focus of a woman’s health. These experts provide obstetric and gynecological care at locations throughout the region, including maternity centers and facilities for infertility treatment and pelvic health.

In addition, Atrium Health Women’s Care is home to the only maternal-fetal medicine program in the area, providing care to the highest-risk patients in the region. Its Women’s Institute holds the highest single embryo success rates in the Southeast, with IVF live birth rates well above the national average, as well as features a Center of Excellence in vitro fertilization lab and is the only fertility center in the region where all physicians are board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility care.

“Best Maternity Care Hospitals showcases an elite group of hospitals nationwide,” said Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief of Newsweek. “These facilities should be commended for the care they provide to women and families, and for giving babies a strong start to life. As families continue to cope with the effects on the pandemic, this information can support Newsweek’s readership in planning for one of life’s most precious moments.”

Hospitals named as a Best Maternity Care Hospital have fully met Newsweek’s standards for maternity care on evidence-based, nationally standardized metrics. This includes lower rates of early elective delivery, NTSV C-section, and episiotomy, as well as compliance with process measures including newborn bilirubin screening prior to discharge and blood clot prevention techniques for mothers delivering via C-section. Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals have also demonstrated a commitment to safety via the fall 2020 Hospital Safety Grade.