Becker’s Hospital Review, the leading national publication on hospital business news and analysis, recentlyrecognized Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) as a top maternity hospital on both the state and national levels. The list of 217 top maternity hospitals in the United States was compiled by Newsweek magazine in partnership with The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that reports on the safety and performance of U.S. health care facilities. The facilities that made the Best Maternity Hospitals 2021 list met Leapfrog’s high standards for safety as well as quality of the maternity care provided. GRMC was one of only three hospitals in the state of Maryland to receive this prestigious distinction.
“It is an honor to be listed as a top-ranking maternity hospital in the country. As with all the patients we care for, we place the health and safety of our mothers and babies in the forefront of all we do,” said Mark Boucot, GRMC President and CEO. “Expectant mothers and their families can be assured that they are in expert hands throughout their pregnancy and beyond, as our clinicians provide award-winning care.”
Hospitals that received the top maternity care honor had to fully meet all of Leapfrog’s rigorous targets in several quality and safety measures, including lower rates of early elective deliveries, C-sections, and episiotomies. Hospitals also had to consistently conduct newborn jaundice screenings as well as techniques to prevent blood clots in mothers delivering via C-section. GRMC has realized a 0% C-section infection rate since 2016, a rate that is well below the national average of 3%-15%.
GRMC’s excellent rating is also supported by its clinical relationship with WVU Medicine. Being part of the health system allows for accessibility to neonatologists 24 hours a day. Furthermore, the NICU service at Ruby Memorial allows GRMC physicians to care for high risk neonates locally, or arrange for quick transport to Morgantown for a higher level of care.
“Our focus, every day, is to offer safe, quality care in our community,” said Marlana Bollinger, MD, of Wellspring Family Medicine. “The maternity suite at GRMC allows us to provide our mothers and babies with the very best experience when they need it most.”
The Family Centered Maternity Suite at GRMC features five LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum) rooms and four private patient rooms. The spacious, suite-style patient rooms are designed with efficiency and patient comfort in mind. A fully equipped nursery is also available for infants with special needs.
“Having a facility at this level to provide our families with a caring and safe environment to welcome their babies is a true asset in the region,” said Sotiere Savopoulos, MD, of Cornerstone Family Medicine. “Every mother deserves a safe and healthy place to deliver their baby. This recognition reflects the commitment we have to providing high-quality, compassionate maternity care.”
Garrett Regional Medical Center is among the top-rated hospitals in Maryland. GRMC is the top-rated hospital in the state for reducing hospital-acquired conditions, and has had the lowest all-payer readmission rate in the state for the past five years. GRMC’s surgical site infection rate of 0.08% is far below the national average of 1.9%. It is ranked in the top 50 hospitals in the United States for its low readmission rates for both COPD patients and for patients diagnosed with sepsis.