Southcoast Hospitals named to U.S. News and World Report 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care

FALL RIVER and NEW BEDFORD Mass. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Southcoast Hospitals as a 2022-2023 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy), officials announced.

“I am incredibly proud of Southcoast Health’s commitment to bringing exceptional maternity care to our community,” said Ray Kruger, MD, FACS, President and CEO of Southcoast Health. “This is the highest ranking a hospital can earn from U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, and I would like to thank everyone whose hard work and dedication made this achievement possible.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals that provide high-quality labor & delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies for its 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Fewer than half of all hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation and only four hospitals in Massachusetts made the list.

The annual evaluation is designed to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their doctors, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care. Southcoast Hospitals, including Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as newborn complication rates.

“We are proud to be recognized again this year as a premier destination for maternity services,” says Kim Pina, RN, Executive Director of the Family Centered Unit/Level II Nursery & Pediatrics at St. Luke’s Hospital. “I am honored to work with our incredible staff who continually goes above and beyond for every patient.”

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 and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, among other measures.

“Earning this national recognition demonstrates the ongoing commitment and dedication of our providers, nurses, and staff to continue bringing the highest quality care to our community,” said Christian Pope, DO, FACOG Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology for Southcoast Health. “Joining Southcoast Health earlier this year, I am inspired by the remarkable accomplishments our team has made to date, and am looking forward to continuing Southcoast’s mission to provide exceptional women’s health care close to home.”