PVHMC Recognized for Excellent Patient Outcomes During Black Maternal Health Week by U.S. News and World Report

The hospital is among 26 facilities in the nation, and only five in California, recognized for excellent outcomes among Black maternal patients

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) has been recognized for its success in supporting Black maternal health by U.S. News & World Report for Black Maternal Health Week 2024.

“It’s an honor for our high-risk maternal fetal program to be recognized with an elite designation for good patient outcomes,” says M. Hellen Rodriguez, MD, medical director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at PVHMC. “Our excellence in Black maternal care is the result of our high standards, continued medical education, implicit bias training and the dedication of our physicians and Associates who specialize in high-risk pregnancies and work to build trust among our patients who might have felt marginalized by health providers in the past.”

U.S. News’ analysis of all High-Performing Maternity Care Hospitals in the U.S. identified just 26 hospitals nationwide achieving excellent outcomes for cesarean section and unexpected newborn complications among Black patients.

Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, and most of the maternal deaths are preventable.

“For Black Maternal Health Week 2024, we celebrate these hospitals' success in their important work supporting and advancing Black maternal health as part of U.S. News’ ongoing commitment to health equity and our support of women’s access to maternity care,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News.

PVHMC’s cesarean prevention program and quality initiatives identify patients at high-risk for complications and reduces cesarean births among low-risk, first-time mothers. The reduction in primary cesarean births leads to less complications and better outcomes. PVHMC also works with neighboring health centers to monitor pre-natal care for women who plan to give birth at its hospital. The hospital has a maternal-fetal transport program with other facilities to transfer women who experience pregnancy complications to PVHMC. The high-risk maternal fetal transport team is always available to our referring facilities and works closely with them to develop a plan of care for every patient.

Since many complications are rooted in patient cardiovascular conditions, all expectant women admitted to PVHMC are closely monitored, and when necessary are treated for hypertension expeditiously. Upon discharge, patients who experienced high blood pressure while in the hospital receive blood pressure monitoring equipment to take home. In the hospital and out in the community, PVHMC focuses on health education to reduce disparities and improve access to services.

U.S. News identified hospitals that were rated High Performing in U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, served at least 20 Black patients per year and had newborn complication rates of less than 2.62% and C-section rates of less than 23.9% (among hospitals providing a higher level of care) or 23.6% (among hospitals not providing a higher level of care) among Black patients.

PVHMC is ranked among the top 25 hospitals in the nation and is in the top five hospitals in the state by U.S News and World Report for maternity care.

To learn more about PVHMC maternal care, visit: www.pvhmc.org/centers-of-excellence/women-childrens-center/maternity-services.