Dignity Health Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Earns Distinction as 2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report

Memorial Hospital only Kern County hospital  to receive a High Performing Designation

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BAKERSFIELD, CA – December 5, 2023 − U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Bakersfield Memorial Hospital as a 2024 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. 

Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is an annual evaluation designed to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care that best meets their family’s needs. Memorial Hospital earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as newborn complication rates. 

“It’s an honor that Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Kern County to receive this national recognition,” said Ken Keller, President & CEO of Memorial Hospital. “This distinction is a testament to the exceptional dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff who continue reaching the highest performance in labor and delivery services for families in our community.” 

U.S. News evaluated hospitals from across the nation that provide labor and delivery services and submitted detailed data to the publication for analysis; 680 hospitals, an all-time high, participated in this year’s U.S. News survey. Fewer than half – 46% – of all hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation. 

“Hospitals that receive a High Performing designation as part of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care meet a high standard in caring for parents with uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals have C-section rates that are 26% lower, and newborn complication rates that are 37% lower than unrecognized hospitals. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics for free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding  rates, early elective delivery rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures. To learn more about Bakersfield Memorial Hospital’s maternity care services, please visit dignityhealth.org/bakersfield/maternity. 

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About Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is a 385-bed acute care medical center offering a full range of services including the Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center, Grossman Burn Center at Memorial Hospital, expanded maternity and family care, the Lauren Small Children’s Center, orthopedic services, wound care center, 24-hour emergency care and general/outpatient surgery. Memorial Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and is home to the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House. Memorial Hospital is a member of Dignity Health and is a trusted community partner, serving residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with quality, compassionate care since 1956. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/bakersfieldmemorial.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.