U.S. News and World Report recognized five North Texas hospitals for their maternity care in its latest rankings. Two Baylor Scott & White Health and two Texas Health Resources hospitals were named to the list, as well as Parkland Health.
In an effort to guide expecting families, U.S. News evaluated 680 hospitals that provided data for their labor and delivery services. “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. “These hospitals have C-section rates that are 26 percent lower and newborn complication rates that are 37 percent lower than unrecognized hospitals that participated in the survey. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics for free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.”
The Baylor Scott & White Health Medical Centers at Centennial and Irving were considered high performing this year. They were joined by Texas Health Presbyterian hospitals in Denton and Allen and Parkland Health.
In 2022, Texas Health Denton opened its expanded Center for Women as part of a $128 million project. The hospital is Denton County’s largest provider of obstetrical services and delivered 2,117 babies in 2022.
“We are grateful to receive this recognition,” said Jeff Reecer, president of Texas Health Denton. “We are committed to bringing compassionate, quality care to patients in Denton and Denton County. We are partners with our patients and honored that this relationship often includes welcoming new babies to their families.”
U.S. News evaluates hospitals with objective data like 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. If a hospital doesn’t submit data to U.S. News, they won’t be included in the ranking.
This year, the rankings also included a list of 73 hospitals across the country that are considered maternity care access hospitals because they provide services to those living in maternity deserts. Wise Health System, which was recently purchased by Medical City Healthcare, was named to the inaugural list. It was one of only two maternity access facilities in the state recognized by U.S. News.
“While growing maternity care deserts in parts of the country have left millions of people without local access to maternity care, these U.S. News-recognized Maternity Care Access Hospitals persist in providing this vital service to under-resourced communities,” said Winston.
U.S. News isn’t the only entity evaluating hospitals for their maternity care. DFW Child magazine also issues a yearly “Best Hospital to Have a Baby” ranking, which is based on reader surveys rather than data submitted by the hospitals. Medical City Dallas, Medical City Plano, and Medical City Lewisville are frequent honorees in their respective counties in that ranking.
Check out all the maternity care rankings here.
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