Winchester Medical Center Named One of America’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals

Valley Health Winchester Medical Center (WMC) is proud to announce that it has been named one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals for 2025 by Newsweek, in partnership with Statista. This prestigious accolade underscores our team’s dedication to providing exceptional care and a superior experience for all families in our region. The annual Newsweek list includes the leading hospitals in the U.S. recognized for providing high-quality care to mothers and newborns.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, which is a testament to the care our team provides for mothers and their babies every day at WMC,” said Tonya Smith, President of Winchester Medical Center. “As the region’s largest maternity hospital, we welcome nearly 2,500 newborns into the world each year and provide advanced services for high-risk pregnancy and neonatal intensive care. We are committed to building a healthier future for all who entrust us with their care, beginning with our smallest patients.”

Designation as one of Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals is based on high performance in each of three broad pillars: hospital quality metrics; publicly available results from patient experience surveys; and a nationwide survey of physicians and health care professionals in the maternity field. Quality metrics of focus include key drivers of patient outcomes in maternity care, including limiting early elective deliveries, primary C-section rates, maternal complication rates, infection prevention, fostering breastfeeding and health equity.

“We’re extremely proud to be recognized for our strong performance in national quality metrics such as limiting early elective deliveries, complications and primary C-section rates,” said Leslie Kidd, MD, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WMC. “Our entire multidisciplinary team is focused on delivering the highest standard of care for mothers and their babies.”

The Best Maternity Care methodology also takes into account Winchester Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), its dedicated Labor & Delivery suites, and ANCC Magnet Accreditation, reflecting nursing excellence at the hospital.

“It is truly a privilege for our team to support women in having a birthing experience at WMC that is safe, comfortable, and family-centered,” said Clarissa Merriner, MSN, RN, Director of Women and Children’s Services at WMC. “We consistently use evidence-based practices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both mothers and babies, while striving to deliver a warm, comforting experience during one of life’s most important moments.”