Essentia Health-Fargo Recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Maternity Care
Essentia Health-Fargo has again been named a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, marking the second consecutive year the hospital has received the highest designation in U.S. News’ annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care study.
The designation recognizes maternity care as measured by factors like severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
“We are honored to continue to be recognized as a high-performing hospital for maternity care,” said Suzanne Zeltinger, chief nursing officer for Essentia’s West Market. “This recognition, as well as being the only Baby-Friendly® designated hospital in the Fargo-Moorhead area, reflects our team’s commitment to delivering exceptional care and prioritizing the health and well-being of both mom and baby.”
“The hospitals recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”
U.S. News evaluations can assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs.
Essentia Health-Fargo’s maternity team includes both OB/GYNs and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), who work together to provide individualized care throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum recovery. CNMs are advanced practitioners with specialized training in women’s health, labor and delivery, postpartum care and comprehensive women’s health.
Essentia Health-Fargo has a seven-member midwifery team that currently delivers between 30% and 40% of the hospital’s babies.
“We work collaboratively with our physicians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists for high-risk deliveries or patients with more complicated situations,” said Denise Powell, a certified nurse-midwife with 16 years of experience at Essentia. “They support our patients in achieving their desired birth experience, even if they need to transition from our team, which is rare.”
If you are interested in embarking on your maternity journey at Essentia Health-Fargo, please call (701) 364-8900 or visit EssentiaHealth.org and take a virtual tour of the birthing center and NICU today. Read more about Essentia Health-Fargo’s rating at usnews.com.