MHP Birthing Center Recognized Nationally for Quality, Affordable Medical Care
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – In an effort to help prospective parents find hospitals that deliver quality maternity care, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) announced that Mahaska Health Partnership received designation as a Blue Distinction Center in Maternity Care.
According to MHP Chief Nursing Officer Chris Jepsen, Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals recognized for delivering quality care safely and effectively, based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community. To receive this designation, a hospital must meet quality criteria for Blue Distinction Centers while also meeting requirements for cost efficiency.
“The MHP Birthing Center boasts an incredible team of highly-dedicated physicians, nurses and support staff who assure that our youngest patients receive care before and after delivery that is now being recognized by a national association,” Jepsen explained.
“Our team meets requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care. We also have initiated programs to promote successful breastfeeding. In addition, we were evaluated on overall patient satisfaction, including a willingness to recommend the hospital to others.”
According to BCBS, nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community.
Compared with babies born 39 weeks or later, early term infants face higher risks of infant death and respiratory ailments such as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and respiratory failure, among other conditions. These babies also have a higher rate of admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care, an expansion of the national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, are hospitals recognized for delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively, based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.
Research shows that, compared to other facilities, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients. “This innovative program offers parents an objective source of information to help find quality care for new mothers and their children,” said Dr. Trent Haywood, senior vice president and chief medical officer for BCBSA.
“Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care will serve as the foundation for promoting quality maternity care nationally. Our research shows that consumers want the right information to become confident in their healthcare decisions. We will continue to collaborate with medical experts to evolve the criteria used to evaluate hospitals and make the information readily available to consumers, providers and employers.”
To learn more about the MHP Birthing Center or to schedule a tour, call 641.672.3170 or visit mahaskahealth.org
