The Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) are recognizing 16 hospitals that have achieved new designations for committing to practices that improve quality and outcomes for persons giving birth.
Eleven birthing facilities have achieved the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation and five birthing facilities have achieved the Birth Ready Plus Designation. The respective designations recognize consistent, thoughtful healthcare improvement work that focuses on improving safety, equity, and promoting dignified birth. To achieve designation, facilities met criteria in five dimensions such as implementation of policies and procedures and promoting patient partnership and addressing health disparities and equity.
“Disparities in birth outcomes experienced by mothers in Louisiana are unfortunately well documented, but through the LaPQC the Louisiana Department of Health is working to change that narrative,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips. “I’d like to congratulate the birthing facilities that have achieved these new designations, rising to meet the challenge of improving birthing outcomes and ensuring everyone has equitable opportunity to have a safe and dignified birth.”
The work of the LaPQC, an initiative of the Department’s Bureau of Family Health, is dedicated to improving perinatal and neonatal outcomes across Louisiana.
As of August 2021, the following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready Designation:
-Baton Rouge General
-Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital
-Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital
-East Jefferson General Hospital
-Jennings American Legion Hospital
-Lane Regional Medical Center
-Ochsner LSU Health Monroe
-Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport St. Mary Medical Center
-Ochsner Medical Center Kenner
-Willis-Knighton South and the Center for Women’s Health
-Woman’s Hospital
As of August 2021, the following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready+ Designation:
-North Oaks Medical Center
-Ochsner Baptist Medical Center
-Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge
-Our Lady of the Angels Hospital
-Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children