The University of Maryland Medical Center Named One of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek

June 06, 2023

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) has been named one of the best maternity hospitals in the country by Newsweek. The ranking is based on responses from neonatal care providers and OB/GYN's who were asked to recommend the best maternity hospitals, key quality measures relevant to maternity care and patient satisfaction data.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by our peers as one of the best hospitals in the country for women to receive a full range of maternal care," said Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UMMC, and Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "This ranking is a testament to the talent and dedication of our entire team, who provide the highest quality care to our patients and their families."

UMMC is one of only two hospitals in Maryland to earn "5 Ribbons" for maternity care.

UMMC, the flagship academic hospital of the University of Maryland Medical System, is known for taking on even the most complex maternal and fetal medicine cases. The hospital's highly skilled physicians, nurses and support staff work together to provide comprehensive care to women and their babies, including prenatal, labor and delivery and postpartum care. The medical center is home to the Center for Advanced Fetal Care, which evaluates and treats fetal abnormalities as early as possible to assure the best outcomes for babies after birth. The dedicated team of physicians and researchers at the Center has successfully performed over 3,000 intrauterine fetal procedures, including life-saving transfusions, drainage procedures, shunt catheters, and other forms of fetal surgery.

UMMC also created the first Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Maryland, providing specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns. Care is family-centered, with sleeping couches available in every room and designated areas for parents to take breaks while remaining close to their child. To make this lifesaving care available to all Maryland newborns in need, UMMC established the first NICU transport program in the state, which allows critically ill newborns from different regions to be transported to UMMC's NICU unit.

"I am constantly amazed by the skill and compassion exhibited by our hardworking NICU and maternal fetal medicine staff. They take on some of the toughest cases imaginable, with a dedication that helps our littlest patients recover despite facing tremendous odds. We are grateful for the incredible work they do every day," said Steven J. Czinn, MD, Director of the University of Maryland Children's Hospital and the Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

"On behalf of our entire medical center, I want to congratulate our maternal and neonatal care teams for this accolade from Newsweek, particularly as it is based on our reputation among other providers and patients. Thank you for demonstrating UMMC's commitment to delivering world-class clinical outcomes as well as excellence in patient and family-centered care," said Bert W. O'Malley, MD, President and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center.