COVINGTON, Louisiana – St. Tammany Health System has achieved the 2022 Louisiana Birth Ready Designation from the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC).
This designation distinguishes that STHS birthing facilities are committed to practices that promote a safe, equitable and dignified birth for all persons birthing in Louisiana.
“Congratulations to our colleagues in the New Family Center for achieving the Birth Ready Designation,” said STHS President and CEO Joan M. Coffman, FACHE. “It’s truly a recognition of our world-class processes, policies and education structures. We are grateful to our colleagues and physicians for always focusing on improved outcomes for mothers and babies.”
Hospitals receiving the Birth Ready Designation do not pay for the honor; but rather, they go through a rigorous application and review process by the LaPQC. To achieve this designation, STHS participated in extensive collaboration, evaluation and work in five focus areas:
- Participation in collaborative learning.
- Health disparity and patient partnership.
- Policies and procedures.
- Structures and education.
- Outcome and process measures.
Since its founding in 1954 as St. Tammany Health System, STHS has birthed more than 60,000 babies.
Other distinctions that establish STHS as a center of excellence for mother-baby care include Baby-Friendly USA designation, a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a Pediatric Emergency Department and a Level 2 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit as part of Ochsner Hospital for Children at St. Tammany Health System.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is nationally recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. The health system is home to 281-bed St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, three diagnostic centers and 12 medical clinics throughout western St. Tammany Parish. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is AA- rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.
About the STHS and Ochsner Partnership
St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life, today and for the future. Together, the partners represent the most complete system of care, aligning west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other.