HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Medical Center is pleased to be named a High Performing hospital in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report.

The publication’s annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings also recognized Meritus as one of 118 Maternity Care Access Hospitals, which provides maternity services in areas that would otherwise lack access to such care.

“This designation is a testament to the dedication of our skilled team members in our Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum unit,” said Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., Meritus chief operating officer. “Their commitment to our patients truly reflects our mission of improving the health of our community.”

U.S. News asked hospitals to provide data for certain procedures and conditions related to maternity care. Hospitals that scored well on multiple measures were recognized as High Performing. High Performing hospitals had fewer C-sections, fewer severe newborn complications than other hospitals, had a low episiotomy rate, had higher rates of breast milk feeding, and more, according to the publication.

This is the second year that Meritus has been designated a Maternity Care Access Hospital. To qualify, U.S. News included hospitals that were the only ones providing maternity care in their counties, and that had fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births. In addition, the publication included hospitals that were the only hospital within a 15-mile radius in a county with fewer than 128 obstetric providers per 10,000 births.

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Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has nearly 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.