Tampa General Hospital Named Among Nation’s Best in Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report

The 2024 designation underscores how the academic health system strives for excellence in patient care.

 

Tampa, FL (Jan. 31, 2024) – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Tampa General Hospital (TGH) as a 2024 High-Performing Hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This is the highest award a hospital can earn for maternity care in U.S. News’ Best Hospitals ratings.

“At Tampa General Hospital, our physicians and team members provide exceptional care to expectant mothers and their newborns because we know that a healthy start to life contributes to better health throughout life,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. “This recognition is a testament to the team’s excellence in patient care, commitment to clinical research and pursuit of innovation — many of the reasons why families turn to Tampa General for world-class 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.

Tampa General earned the High-Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as newborn complication rates.

“This honor is recognition of the hospital’s commitment to meeting the needs of all expectant mothers and in bringing them world-class health care,’’ said Dr. Judette Louis, chief, TGH Women’s Institute, and James M. Ingram Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“This recognition is a testament to Dr. Louis’ outstanding leadership, as well as the dedication of our amazing health care team,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “USF Health and our partners at Tampa General Hospital are committed to providing the best possible care to every mother and baby delivering at Tampa General — whether that’s a mother enjoying a normal pregnancy or facing a high-risk pregnancy that requires the kind of complex care that only an academic health system can provide.”

Lockwood also is the executive vice president and chief academic officer at Tampa General. He is an obstetrician-gynecologist himself and has delivered more than 5,000 babies. 

Tampa General Hospital is ranked as a top 10 hospital in the nation and the highest-ranked hospital in Florida for Obstetrics & Gynecology by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24. Other notable acknowledgments include:

• In 2023, Tampa General Hospital was named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals for the third consecutive year.
• In 2023, Tampa General Hospital was redesignated as the only Baby-Friendly® birth facility in Hillsborough County. Earning the Baby-Friendly® designation is a rigorous achievement given only to facilities that have implemented the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and are compliant with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
• In 2022, Tampa General Hospital was recognized by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health with an award for exceeding national goals for reducing the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies and instead promoting vaginal deliveries. It was one of only 26 delivery hospitals in Florida to achieve the award.
• In 2021, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health named Tampa General Hospital as one of only 15 delivery hospitals in Florida to promote vaginal deliveries and reduce cesarean section deliveries for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies.
• Tampa General was recognized in 2020 for its achievement in maternal care during a Florida Hospital Association webinar titled, “Reducing Unnecessary C-Sections: Successful Florida Strategies.”

“Families across Florida turn to the TGH Women’s Institute for a full range of women’s health services, from routine to complex care,” said Melissa Golombek, vice president, Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH and TGH Women’s Institute. “We’re focused on safe childbirth and quality care for our patients, which can contribute to better patient outcomes for the mom and baby.”

In 2022, Tampa General delivered more than 7,000 babies. 

U.S. News evaluated hospitals from across the nation that provide labor and delivery services and submitted detailed data to the publication for analysis. An all-time high — 680 hospitals — participated in this year’s U.S. News survey. Less 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,” she added. “Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodologyis 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.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and search #BestMaternityHospitals on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).