U.S. News & World Report Names Sauk Prairie Healthcare a High Performing Hospital for the Best Hospitals for Maternity

Sauk Prairie Healthcare has been recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity.

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity, hospitals had to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complication rates, C-sections, whether births were scheduled too early in pregnancy, and how successfully each hospital supported breastfeeding. Out of 2,700 hospitals nationwide that offer maternity services, U.S. News identified 237 that earned a high performing recognition among the Best Hospitals for Maternity.

“All families deserve to be informed on how hospitals perform on key indicators of quality, which is why U.S. News has compiled and published a trove of maternal health data from hospitals across the country,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report. “The hospitals we’ve recognized as High Performing meet a high standard in caring for patients with uncomplicated pregnancies.”

Sauk Prairie Healthcare earned a “High Performing” rating in Best Hospitals for Maternity. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for that type of care.

“Patient safety is the highest priority at our hospital,” said Shawn Lerch, CEO of Sauk Prairie Healthcare. “I’m impressed every day by the personalized care and compassion I witness from the entire team in our Birth Center, along with their focus on quality and patient experience, so it’s very gratifying to see their hard work recognized by U.S. News and World Report.”

Unique to the U.S. News site, participating hospital profiles are a one stop shop and include a variety of relevant offerings for parents-to-be including key measures of safety, alongside services and amenities, like private rooms, valet parking and availability of child birthing classes.

The evaluation looks at hospital data relating to only uncomplicated pregnancies, not high-risk pregnancies. Participating hospitals responded to a survey from the U.S. News health analysis team in spring of 2021 which reflects data from 2019. Participation was voluntary. We anticipate updating Best Hospitals for Maternity in summer of 2022, to coincide with the release of the 2022-23 Best Hospitals for Procedures & Conditions ratings.