U.S. News & World Report Rates Natividad a Top Hospital for Maternity Care and Highlights Equity
- December 17, 2024
Natividad has earned the highest distinction in maternity care from U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care 2025 (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) in the publication’s annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care study.
Natividad is also featured in the U.S. News & World Report’s article “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care Adds New Equity Measure.”
“We are honored to be recognized for our excellent care, outcomes and equity by U.S. News & World Report,” said Natividad Chief OB-GYN Surgeon Dr. Peter Chandler. “Natividad’s obstetricians spend time in clinics across the county so our mothers in remote communities get to know us and have access to the best prenatal care.”
Hospitals rated as High Performing, like Natividad, demonstrated excellence in several key areas: lower rates of serious newborn complications, fewer C-sections, higher vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, birthing-friendly practices, transparency in racial and ethnic disparity reporting, and lower episiotomy rates. The evaluation process included a thorough review of objective outcomes and complication data. Natividad was among a select group of hospitals to earn this recognition, and results are published publicly as a scorecard on Natividad’s usnews.com page.
“Natividad’s mission is to continually monitor and improve the health of the people, including the vulnerable, in Monterey County through coordinated, affordable, high-quality health care,” said Natividad CEO Dr. Chad Harris. “It is at the core of who we are, and nothing is more vital to us than continuing our path to excellence in providing equitable, compassionate, world-class health care.”
Natividad’s maternal health highlights:
- In 2023, Natividad delivered 2,300 babies, representing nearly half of the 4,813 babies born in Monterey County.
- Less than 23.9% of first-time, low-risk pregnancies were delivered via C-section at Natividad, making the hospital excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections.
- Natividad was the first hospital in Monterey County to offer VBACs in 2009. VBAC support is 23.6% higher than the state average.
- Natividad’s episiotomy rate is less than 5%. The once-common procedure should now rarely be performed.
- Recognized as Birthing-Friendly by U.S. News & World Report, Natividad is also designated as a Baby-Friendly hospital.
- Natividad tracks its racial and ethnic disparities for C-sections and severe unexpected newborn complications.
- Natividad’s representation of non-white births was higher than the community, at 96%, compared to 94% of non-white births in Salinas and 86% of non-white births in Monterey County.
Natividad is recognized by many organizations for its high-quality maternity care and outcomes:
- Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care designation by Blue Cross Blue Shield signifies that Natividad delivers high-quality maternity care safely and effectively, based on objective quality measures that represent evidence-based practices of high-quality maternity care.
- Smart Care California’s C-section Honor Roll for Maternity Care for improving C-section rates, applying critical safety measures, and ensuring that mothers get timely and high-quality prenatal and postpartum care.
- International recognition as a Baby-Friendly® birth facility for offering breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies successfully.
- BETA Healthcare Group Award of Excellence for High Quality Obstetrical Practices achieving 100% Compliance. The goal of the OB initiative is to promote best practices in care delivery to moms and babies in BETA’s “Quest for Zero” preventable birth injuries.
- Natividad earned an “A” safety grade for fall 2024 from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization.
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