Special to the Herald
HCA Florida Healthcare recently announced two Central Florida hospitals are winners of the Excellence for Maternal Care Awards presented by the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. This award, given to Oviedo Medical Center and UCF Lake Nona Hospital, recognizes facilities demonstrating a commitment to maternal healthcare and supporting health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
“We are thrilled to receive the Maternal Care Excellence Award once again,” said Tracy Flaherty, director of women’s services at Oviedo Medical Center. “We always strive to provide the safest, highest quality care to our community every day.”
The Excellence for Maternal Care Awards recognize hospitals surpassing the Healthy People 2030 target goal of 23.6% for optimizing cesarean section rates among first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies, known as the NTSV (Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex) cesarean birth rate.
“This achievement is a reflection of the compassionate patient-centered care we provide all our mothers and babies,” said Wendy Brandon, CEO, UCF Lake Nona Hospital. “We are excited to earn this important award and are fortunate to have committed and collaborative physicians and nurses who always put the patient first.”
As one of the state’s largest network of healthcare providers, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to the staff and resources needed to manage both routine and complex pregnancies. Providers use evidence-based practices and advanced technology, such as wireless fetal monitoring, to promote safe and efficient deliveries.
Other HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals honored with a 2022 Excellence for Maternal Care Award include:
• HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
• HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital
• HCA Florida Memorial Hospital
• HCA Florida North Florida Hospital
• HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital
• HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital
• HCA Florida Trinity Hospital
• HCA Florida West Hospital
“The exemplary performance of these hospitals demonstrates the commitment that HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals have to support mothers for successful births,” said Diana Moses, assistant vice president of women’s and children’s services for HCA Healthcare. “The success of optimal NTSV C-section rates reflects the collaborative efforts of our nurses, providers and patients to realize the best outcome for mothers and babies.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that of the total number of cesarean births in 2019, 25.6% were among the NTSV population. Nationwide, nearly nine in 10 women who deliver via C-section with their first pregnancy have a C-section with subsequent pregnancies, increasing the risk of dangerous or long-term complications.
Each year, HCA Florida Healthcare, which includes more than 650 affiliated sites of care across the state, delivers more than 32,000 babies. Its team of board-certified obstetricians, certified nurse midwives and certified nurses understand family-centered care and provide quality support throughout the birthing process.
To learn more about HCA Florida Healthcare’s labor and delivery services, visit https://www.hcafloridahealthcare.com/specialties/womens-care/labor-and-delivery
