Providers from Cornerstone Family Medicine and Wellspring Family Medicine are pictured with GRMC’s Family-Centered Maternity Suite team members in recognition of the two national accolades for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report.
Garrett Regional Medical Center’s (GRMC) maternity care department has been nationally named one of the leading maternity care departments in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. GRMC, a member of the West Virginia University Health System, was recognized for both the quality of care provided to mothers and infants and access to that level of care in a rural community.
To be recognized as a 2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, hospitals must have received a high-performing designation in maternity care. Of the 608 hospitals (an all-time high) evaluated by U.S. News & World Report, GRMC is one of 311 hospitals awarded with this distinction for uncomplicated pregnancies.
U.S. News & World Report assessed hospitals’ performance based on 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.
“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, , health data scientist at U.S. News and World Report.
In addition, GRMC was named one of three WVU Medicine hospitals in the inaugural recognition of Maternity Care Access Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. GRMC is among 73 facilities recognized for providing maternity care to low-access communities throughout the country. Many rural hospitals throughout the country no longer provide maternity care, causing many rural residents to travel miles in order to deliver their babies in a hospital setting.
Maternity Care Access Hospitals are recognized for providing comprehensive maternity care services, including labor and delivery, postpartum care, and newborn care, in areas where there is little access to such services.
To be included on this list, hospitals must meet certain geographic criteria, including being located in communities that have a high need for maternity care and are often the only source of maternity care in the area.
“This is such an incredible honor for Garrett Regional Medical Center’s maternity care department,” said Mark Boucot, GRMC’s CEO and president. “This national distinction is a direct reflection of the high level of care our providers, labor and delivery staff, and caregivers deliver to our patients and families each day.”
GRMC’s Family-Centered Maternity Suite features five labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum rooms and four private patient rooms. The spacious suite-style patient rooms are designed with efficiency and patient comfort in mind to welcome expectant parents and their newborns. A fully equipped, functional nursery is also available for infants with special needs.
The Family-Centered Maternity Suite offers a safe, secure atmosphere with 24-hour care provided by our highly experienced team of physicians and nursing staff.
For more information on Garrett Regional Medical Center, visit www.wvumedicine.org/Garrett.
