Memorial Recognized for Excellence in Infant and Maternal Health

THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL, MEMORIAL RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN INFANT AND MATERNAL HEALTH

The Women’s Hospital at Deaconess and Jasper’s Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center were both recognized today by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the fifth annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program.

INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant, was developed to implement the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.

The Women’s Hospital (TWH) was recognized as an INspire Hospital of Distinction and Memorial received an INspire Category of Excellence award. The recognition was based on implementing best practices in key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, perinatal substance use, social drivers of health, obstetric hemorrhage and maternal hypertension.

“Our team at The Women’s Hospital is dedicated to providing the highest level of care for mothers and infants, and this recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for families in our community,” TWH CEO Chris Ryan said. “We are honored to be recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association and the Indiana Department of Health for our efforts in maternal and infant health.”

“This award is a testament to the dedication of our maternity care team and their focus on ensuring the best possible start for moms and babies,” said Erica Arthur, Director of Women & Infant Services at Memorial. “We are proud to be part of a statewide effort that is making a meaningful difference in maternal and infant health.”

“The Indiana Department of Health remains focused on working with healthcare providers to improve outcomes for Hoosier moms and babies,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “We are grateful to have hospitals across the state support initiatives, such as the Indiana Perinatal Levels of Care and obstetrical emergencies training, that have contributed to improvements in both maternal and infant health.”

For the first time in the program’s history, 100 percent of Indiana’s birthing facilities earned one of two INspire recognitions, reinforcing the progress that has been made to improve upon the key drivers of maternal and infant health.

“Indiana hospitals are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Weaver and her team for their continued partnership to address the critical issue of infant and maternal mortality,” IHA President Scott B. Tittle said. “We are proud to celebrate the Hoosier facilities that have successfully demonstrated these best practices and how far our state has come in the five years since the launch of INspire. Together, we are truly making a difference.”

Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana.

ABOUT DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM: Deaconess Health System is a premiere provider of health care services to a population of more than 1.5 million in southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky and southeastern Illinois. The system – based in Evansville, Indiana – includes 20 hospitals: Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Deaconess Gateway Hospital, Deaconess Henderson Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center, Deaconess Union County Hospital, Deaconess Gibson Hospital, Deaconess Illinois Medical Center, Deaconess Illinois Crossroads, Deaconess Illinois Union County, The Heart Hospital, The Women’s Hospital, The Orthopedic and Neuroscience Hospital, Deaconess Cross Pointe, Mission Behavioral Health, Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville and Encompass Health Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital. Deaconess Clinic, a fully integrated multispecialty group featuring primary care physicians as well as top specialty doctors, provides patients with consistent and convenient care. Additional components include the Linda E. White Hospice House, a freestanding cancer center, urgent care facilities, near-site clinics, telemedicine, virtual visits, a network of preferred hospitals and doctors, and multiple partnerships with other regional health care providers.