COVINGTON – The New Family Center at St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital has achieved the Birth Ready+ designation from the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a program administered through the state Department of Health.
This designation recognizes the health system’s consistent, thoughtful healthcare and quality improvement work. Additionally, it celebrates improved perinatal health outcomes, the result of implementing safe, equitable and dignified clinical practices to improve outcomes for all people who give birth in Louisiana.
Hospitals receiving the Birth Ready Designation do not pay for the honor. Rather, they go through a rigorous application and review process by the LaPQC focusing on five areas of requirement:
- 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 Parish Hospital, more than 60,000 babies have been born at St. Tammany Health System.
In January, Women’s Choice ranked the hospital as among the top 1% in America for obstetrics, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana recognized it as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care.
Other distinctions that establish STHS as a center of excellence for mother-baby care include the Baby-Friendly USA designation, a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a Pediatric Emergency Department and a Level 2 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
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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.