Distinction places the hospital among just 231 medical facilities nationwide recognized for superior maternity care SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (July 17, 2020) Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been designated as one of Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020. According to Newsweek, this honor recognizes Dominican for its extraordinary service to mothers, newborns, and families in our community.

To compile the list, a panel of experts set rigorous requirements and reviewed key data. They looked for hospitals with low rates of C-section, episiotomy, and early elective deliveries, and that follow crucial protocols to protect mothers and babies. Though these are standards aligned with medical research and best practices, not all hospitals achieve them. This list of the Best Maternity Hospitals 2020 represents 231 entries in 36 states, categorized by region.

“At Dominican Hospital, we strive to provide a birthing experience that is truly unique,”all the advanced care of a leading medical facility within a welcoming and comfortable community hospital setting, said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “We owe this recognition to our incredible Birth Center team, who is dedicated to providing the highest level of care and compassion for each and every birth.,This distinction is part of Newsweek’s new health care ratings series, Best Health Care. Newsweek, a modern global digital news organization with a monthly readership of 30 million, is publishing the series on top-rated health care enterprises that excel in patient safety and quality. Ratings are powered by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national health care watchdog organization, using data voluntarily submitted by health care facilities to the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey. Leapfrog also deploys teams of experts and analysts to review available data and identify high performers.

Dominican Hospital offers the most advanced maternity care available in the Monterey Bay area, combined with the comforts of home. Our highest priority is ensuring our patients’ health and safety during this unprecedented time. To support that goal, we have implemented changes in our normal protocols to make our families’ birth experiences as safe as possible. All new and expectant mothers should know that you may have a designated support person by your side throughout your labor, birth, and postpartum. Additionally, through a partnership with Stanford Children’s Health,“Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Dominican offers a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staffed by Stanford neonatologists and NICU-certified nurses. Families can rest assured that if their newborn needs extra attention, Dominican offers the highest level of care available in the region.

As a certified Baby-Friendly hospital, newborns at Dominican are immediately placed skin-to-skin on their mothers after birth to bond and make their first feeding attempts. They also stay in the same room with their parents throughout their time in the hospital. Breastfeeding classes for expectant parents as well as breastfeeding support following birth are offered at Dominican Hospital through International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), who are on-site daily to provide teaching and counsel.This recognition is the latest of several Dominican Hospital has received recently. In June, Dominican was awarded a second consecutive ‘A’ grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. The hospital also recently received honors from Healthgrades as among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for cardiac care, as well as recognition for excellence in critical care, pulmonary care, and gastrointestinal care. Learn more about Dominican Hospital’s current awards for clinical excellence at dignityhealth.org/bayarea/locations/dominican/about-us/quality-and-awards.

About Dominican Hospital Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been caring for the Santa Cruz County community for generations. Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, advanced neurological and endoscopic services, and an expert heart and vascular team treating some of the most complex cardiac cases in the Monterey Bay area. Dominican Hospital offers a comprehensive, Baby Friendly-designated Birth Center, and provides an on-site Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Stanford Children’s Health. Dominican has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Dominican also has received several awards for environmental excellence. Dominican Hospital is planning a $360 million renovation and expansion to ensure that the growing Santa Cruz County community can access world class health care well into the future. The project will allow for advanced technology, new state-of-the-art facilities, and even more innovative healing spaces. To learn more about Dominican Hospital, please visit dignityhealth.org/dominican.
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