Hartford-Based Hospital Honored For Maternity Care

Saint Francis Hospital

HARTFORD, CT — A prominent hospital in Hartford has been tabbed by one publication to be a great place to have a baby.

That's because Saint Francis Hospital has been named a 2026 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report.

“We are so honored that U.S. News & World Report recognized Saint Francis Hospital for the outstanding care provided by our maternity team,” said Valerie Powell-Stafford, president of Saint Francis Hospital. “This award underscores the dedication our team has to providing the highest quality care with a patient-centered, compassionate approach to families in our community.”

U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis.

For the 2026 edition, 901 hospitals submitted maternity data for evaluation, the most ever.

These public ratings assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care for uncomplicated births.

“Choosing where to welcome a new baby is one of the most personal health care decisions a family
makes. Expectant parents can use U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care to compare key
outcomes and support services at maternity hospitals in their area,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News.

“Whether your priority is a low C-section rate, strong VBAC support or the availability of a dedicated lactation consultant, U.S. News’ digital hospital profiles offer patients free, transparent information as they choose a hospital for maternity care.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication
rates and exclusive breast milk feeding rates, among other measures.

Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics as well as maternity-related programs, services, and support on the U.S. News website to help them decide where to give birth.

For more information on U.S. News' Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, click on this link.

For more information on Saint Francis Hospital maternity care, click on this link.