Eleven Michigan hospitals awarded for excellence and improvement in maternity care

In honor of Mother’s Day, EAM launches Maternity Care Project

NOVI, MICHIGAN, May 11, 2018 – In conjunction with its new Maternity Care Project, The Economic Alliance for Michigan (EAM), a nonprofit group comprised of Michigan’s largest employers and unions, is awarding hospitals throughout Michigan that have demonstrated excellence and improvement in maternity care and delivery outcomes. This is the inaugural award and winners will be annually announced on Mother’s Day.

The goals of the award and maternity care project are to reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections in the state, decrease infant mortality and reduce elective early deliveries. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a 10 percent reduction in deliveries before 39 weeks gestation would save over $75 million in annual Medicaid costs.

“Early elective deliveries, unnecessary cesarean sections, and episiotomies are all linked to increased negative health outcomes for both the mother and her child,” said Bret Jackson, president of EAM, “These procedures also cost health systems and community members millions of dollars each year in unnecessary spending.”

For the award, hospitals were evaluated based on their cesarean rates (≤ 29.3% of low-risk deliveries), episiotomy rates (≤ 5% of deliveries), and elective early delivery rates (≤ 5% of deliveries). The data is from The Leapfrog Group, a Washington, D.C. based organization aiming to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.

To be awarded the Excellence Award, hospitals needed to fully meet the standard in all three categories in the same calendar year. Recipients of the 2018 Maternity Care Excellence Award are:

Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Dickinson County Healthcare System, Iron Mountain
Mercy Health Hackley Campus, Muskegon
Munson Medical Center, Traverse City
Spectrum Health Pennock Hospital, Hastings
Spectrum Health United Hospital, Greenville
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor

For the Improvement Award, hospitals must have demonstrated decreased rates in the three categories over a two-year period and must now fully meet the standard for cesarean delivery rates. Recipients of the 2018 Maternity Care Improvement Award are:

Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, Wyandotte
Sparrow Carson Hospital. Carson City
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac
St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia

“It is important to acknowledge the great work these hospitals are doing to improve health outcomes and costs associated with these procedures,” said Bret Jackson, “Our goal is to incentivize hospitals in Michigan to continue to strive toward meeting these standards and inform community members of health systems that are going the extra mile to ensure patient safety.”

The Maternity Care Project provides details for each birthing center in Michigan, providing a mom-to-be invaluable information in making her choice for hospital maternity care. To compare birthing centers go to www.eamonline.org/maternity.

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About the Economic Alliance for Michigan
Founded in 1982, the EAM is comprised of businesses and unions working together with one clear objective – continued growth of Michigan’s economy by inspiring job growth and strengthen Michigan’s competitiveness for attracting companies and talent. A main objective of the EAM is bringing attention to lawmakers and the public about the rising health care costs and its effect on the economy. The EAM is the Michigan Regional Leader for The Leapfrog Group. Learn more about the EAM at www.eamonline.org. Follow us on Twitter @EAMOnline.

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