Five Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) hospitals have earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report for their outstanding maternity care services.
The accolade highlights their commitment to providing high-quality care to new mothers and their babies.
Among the LVHN facilities, Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH) campuses, including LVH–Cedar Crest, LVH–Muhlenberg, and LVH–Schuylkill, received the “High Performing” designation for maternity care for 2024-2025.
Additionally, LVH–Pocono, LVH–Schuylkill, and LVH–Hazleton were recognized as Maternity Care Access hospitals, reflecting their role in serving communities with limited maternity care options.
“I am incredibly proud of this achievement because it shows our community that access to safe, high-quality, and compassionate maternity care is available close to home,” said Dr. Amanda Flicker, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief Medical Executive of the Women’s Health Service Line at LVHN. “Our dedicated colleagues work tirelessly to provide mothers and babies with the resources they need to thrive at all stages of pregnancy and postpartum. This tremendous recognition is shared by everyone at LVHN who makes excellent maternity care possible.”
Criteria for Excellence
Hospitals earning the “High Performing” designation were assessed on a range of factors, including:
- Unexpected newborn complication rates
- Birthing-friendly practices
- Transparency on racial and ethnic disparities
- C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies
- Exclusive breastfeeding rates
- Early elective delivery rates
Maternity Care Access Hospitals, a distinct category, are evaluated based on geographic isolation, the number of obstetric providers per 10,000 births, and overall hospital quality. These hospitals play a important role in preventing maternity care deserts, ensuring essential services remain available to underserved communities. Notably, only 14% of all hospitals reviewed by U.S. News met the criteria to be designated as Maternity Care Access Hospitals.
“The hospitals recognized by U.S. News as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Dr. Jennifer Winston, Health Data Scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”
This year, U.S. News & World Report evaluated data from 680 hospitals across the nation. Participants provided detailed labor and delivery statistics, and fewer than half earned the prestigious “High Performing” designation.
Pictured Above: From left: James Xenophon, MD, Susan Medalie, DO, Robert Zimmerman, DO, Ashley Kosta, MD, Sherilyn Gibs, CNM, DNP, David Krewson, DO