Kaiser Permanente recognized nationally for maternity care

Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are once again being recognized as top in the nation for providing safe, high-quality maternity care to new moms and their babies, according to Newsweek magazine’s “Best Maternity Hospitals 2022” report.

For the third year, Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are among the best in the country for meeting rigorous standards for maternity care, including low C-section rates, elective early deliveries and for following important protocols to safely protect new moms and their babies. Last year, 43,687 babies were delivered at Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals.

The following 11 Kaiser Permanente hospitals received the “Best Maternity Hospitals 2022” designation: Antioch, Redwood City, Roseville, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, Vacaville, Vallejo and Walnut Creek.

“We take great pride in being recognized for providing new moms, their babies and families with exceptional maternity care that focuses on their health and safety while also providing them with a personalized care experience,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “We are consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation and state for delivering care that not only exceeds rigorous quality and safety standards but also improves equity in maternal health and provides the best outcomes for new parents and their babies.”

The national designation, awarded to only 350 hospitals in the United States, and only 55 in California, identifies leading maternity care programs that have met or exceeded rigorous quality and safety standards. Kaiser Permanente has a total of 24 hospitals that received the elite designation and approximately 40% of those are listed in California.

“Our physicians and staff, who are the best in health care, work closely with mothers and families to provide exceptional obstetrical expertise in a safe and caring environment,” said Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Our teams are committed to ensuring that the safety and well-being of both babies and their parents is at the forefront of everything we do.”

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is a leader in providing innovative approaches to maternal care and is working to improve equity in maternal health.

Our Supporting Vaginal Birth Program resulted in marked decreases in cesarean birth for first-time moms, and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program helps new mothers recover more quickly after delivering by cesarean section with enhanced early mobility and improved pain control, which minimizes the use of narcotics. A focus on breastfeeding is also integral to Kaiser Permanente’s maternity care, which has proven health benefits for both babies and mothers.

Women in the United States are much more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth that cause injury or death than women in other developed countries. That’s especially true for Black women, who are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

Many of these deaths are linked to inadequate health care quality or access due to poverty or racial bias. Another factor is a higher prevalence of high blood pressure, or hypertension, among Black women.

A new remote monitoring program is making it easier for pregnant patients with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure to upload their numbers to their electronic medical record to share with their perinatal care team.

While the remote monitoring program benefits all mothers, it’s particularly important for those who face challenges keeping maternity appointments because they lack access to transportation or can’t afford to take time off work or pay for childcare. The Kaiser Permanente program and other private sector initiatives were highlighted during the first-ever White House Maternal Health Day of Action in December 2021.