Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Maternity Care Earns 5-Star Rating

Maternity care at Catawba Valley Medical Center received a 5-star rating from HealthGrades, the independent healthcare ratings organization, based on its low complication rates for vaginal and C-section deliveries and its low rates of neonatal mortality. CVMC is the only hospital in the Hickory region to receive this designation.

The HealthGrades study of maternity care examined all 1,546 hospitals that provide maternity care in the 19 states that collect and publish outcomes data. It rated each hospital with 1, 3 or 5 stars for its maternity care based on maternal complication rates and neonatal mortality rates. Five-star hospitals represent the top 15% of all hospitals within the 19 states studied.

Several factors contribute to Catawba Valley Medical Center’s efforts to achieve excellence in maternity care. For example, the CVMC Birthing Center is committed to ensuring that routine C-sections are not scheduled before 39 weeks completed gestation to assure that intentionally-delivered babies are ready for birth and breathing on their own. It employs specialized neonatal nurse practitioners who attend deliveries in which the baby needs special care or stabilization at birth. Skilled physicians and certified nurse midwives provide care and perform deliveries at all hours, and highly trained charge nurses are available for additional support in high-risk situations.

“Hospitals rated with 5 stars for their maternity care are – by the numbers – bringing outstanding care to mothers-to-be and their babies,” said Rick May, MD, a vice president with HealthGrades and co-author of the study. “Members of the community should feel quite proud to have in their midst a hospital that performs at a high level over time in such an important area of care.”

“This recognition from HealthGrades is a result of Catawba Valley Medical Center’s continuing commitment to improved maternity outcomes for our community,” said J. Anthony Rose, President & CEO, Catawba Valley Medical Center. “We commend our dedicated Magnet nurses, physicians and providers for their direct role in helping us achieve HealthGrades’ highest rating for maternity care.”

The HealthGrades Maternity Care study can be found at www.healthgrades.com.