Maternity care ranks among the best in the nation

Whether helping moms recover more quickly after a cesarean birth or protecting families and babies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaiser Permanente has a reputation for top-notch maternity care.

Twenty-two Kaiser Permanente hospitals have been recognized among the Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020 by Newsweek magazine. The elite designation, awarded to only 231 hospitals in the United States, identifies leading maternity care programs based on rigorous quality and safety standards. Kaiser Permanente hospitals represent nearly 10% of those named to the prestigious list nationwide — and nearly 50% of those listed in California.

Newsweek’s best maternity care hospitals demonstrate the highest performance in the United States as verified by the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Designated hospitals meet Leapfrog’s rigorous standards for excellence in maternity care — including low rates of C-section, episiotomy (an incision to enlarge the vaginal opening for childbirth), and elective early delivery — and follow important protocols to protect moms and babies, among other measures. Additionally, all of the hospitals named earned either an A or B on the Spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.

The Kaiser Permanente medical centers that received the Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020 designation include Kaiser Permanente Moanalua in Hawaii; Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside in Oregon; as well as Kaiser Permanente Anaheim, Antioch, Downey, Fontana, Fresno, Modesto, Panorama City, Redwood City, Riverside, Roseville, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, Vacaville, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, West Los Angeles, and Woodland Hills in California.

For more detail on methodology and a complete list of designated maternity care programs, visit Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020.