These Are the Best Maternity Hospitals in America, Report Says

Newsweek has released its annual list of the best maternity hospitals in America. The list features 350 top hospitals listed alphabetically and searchable by city, state or facility name.

To compile the report, Newsweek partnered with data firm Statista to evaluate hospitals based on three data sources:

• A nationwide online survey of hospital managers and maternity healthcare professionals. These health professionals were asked to recommend leading maternity hospitals. Participants rated recommended hospitals in several quality dimensions on a scale of 1-10, including perinatal care, operative obstetrics, patient education, accommodation and service, and overall nurse and midwife staffing.
• Medical key performance indicator (KPI) data relevant to maternity care. The study used publicly available data to assess the rate of c-section births and overall complications in newborn deliveries at each hospital.
• Patient satisfaction data. Data was taken from hospital surveys of patient satisfaction during their hospitalizations. Some survey topics included cleanliness of the hospital, communication with staff, care transition, quietness and staff responsiveness.

Using this data, the 350 awarded hospitals were grouped into two tiers: five-ribbon hospitals and four-ribbon hospitals (essentially their version of five- and four-star ratings, based on their KPI scores).

Newsweek’s Global Editor In Chief Nancy Cooper shared the importance of this carefully compiled list in the introduction to the report. “There’s nothing more joyful than the birth of a healthy baby. High-quality maternity care from pregnancy through birth and even postpartum is key to the long-term health of both newborns and of new mothers,” said Cooper, adding, “To help you pick the best place to achieve the happy outcome of a healthy child and a healthy mother, Newsweek and data firm Statista are proud to announce our ranking of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2022.”

While the list may be helpful, Newsweek notes it does not address high-risk pregnancies and specialized obstetrics care. For more tips on how to shop around for a maternity hospital that’s right for you, head here.