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Expectant mothers in the Hudson Valley can rest assured they’re in good hands when they’re ready to give birth. That’s because not one, but two area hospitals were recognized last month for excellence in maternity care.
Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck and Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie both received five-star ratings for clinical excellence in maternity care based on a study issued by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. The results from the hospitals – both Health Quest affiliates – put them among the top 10 percent nationwide in providing the best care for mother and baby.
“I think this kind of recognition really lets our patients know that we are providing personal, quality care,” said Pam Rhodes, director of women’s services and nursing at Northern Dutchess. “This really reaffirms what we do.”
“Our focus has always been on providing award-winning, quality service to all our patients,” said Carrie McGrath, chief quality officer at Vassar, who noted that the hospital also secured five-star ratings for its cardiology and cardiac surgery departments. “We’re always working on improving the care we provide.”
The HealthGrades “Fifth Annual Report on Women’s Health Outcomes in U.S. Hospitals” found that the best hospitals had nearly 51 percent fewer maternal complications (compared to poor-performing hospitals) among women who had vaginal births, and 76 percent fewer for women undergoing cesarean section births. For this year’s awards, HealthGrades analyzed over 12.5 million hospital deliveries and neonate records from 2004 through 2006 in over 1,440 hospitals.
Model of consistency
It’s the second consecutive year Northern Dutchess has received this prestigious recognition, a fact that is a great source of pride for the hospital’s CEO, Denise George.
“Northern Dutchess Hospital’s second year as a top-10 percent hospital proves that we can consistently provide mother and baby with an individualized birthing experience that is comfortable and safe, creating a wonderful experience for the entire family,” said George.
“It’s really the best of both worlds here,” said Rhodes of the Neugarten Family Birth Center, which opened in 1985 as the first hospital-based birthing center in New York State. “We provide top-flight, high-tech care while also giving patients the home-type atmosphere that makes them feel comfortable.”
Even though this is only the first time Vassar has been honored by the HealthGrades report, McGrath finds it particularly satisfying, considering that the hospital delivers 2,700 babies each year.
“It’s the highest number of deliveries for any hospital between New York City and Montreal,” she said.
McGrath also noted that Vassar provides the only Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the region.
“It offers high-risk and sick newborns outstanding care,” she said. “And we have great outcomes.”
Even with superior facilities and skilled healthcare workers, both Rhodes and McGrath admit that none of these accolades would be possible without the combined efforts of the entire maternity team.
“We’ve done some internal celebrating because we really wanted to say thank you to our nursing staff and neonatologists,” said McGrath. “ We also have terrific obstetricians and pediatricians. It’s really a whole team effort that makes it happen.”
Rhodes agreed.
“We’re very fortunate that we have a strong philosophy in place that encourages a lot of collaboration between our nurses and physicians,” she said. “Everybody communicates well and has terrific working relationships. We always maintain our core values and it’s really the patients that end up benefiting.”
