Tahoe Forest Hospital Receives the 2018 Women’s Choice Award® as One of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics

Tahoe Forest Hospital has been named as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics by the Women’s Choice Award®. The recognition signifies that Tahoe Forest Hospital is in the top 17% of 2,815 U.S. hospitals offering obstetrics. This is the fourth time Tahoe Forest Hospital has been awarded the Women’s Choice Award for America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics.

“Our great medical and hospital staff at the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care strive to deliver excellent care every day—and to take exceptional care of the moms, babies and families in our community,” said Harry Weis, President & CEO, Tahoe Forest Health System. “They truly care about their patients, and this award is a great recognition of their skill, compassion and effectiveness.”

The methodology for the America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics is unique in that it combines national accreditations, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results and hospital outcome scores with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in obstetric services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

The America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics distinction is based on the following specific criteria:

• The percentage of patients reporting through the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital
• Patient safety ranking based on 11 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates
• Low rates of early elective deliveries (between 0-1%)
• Baby-Friendly USA designation, a World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) initiative to support best practices for breast feeding education and counseling

Tahoe Forest Hospital’s Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care is a state-of-the-art facility designed with the needs, safety and comfort of new moms and families in mind. The new facility includes private birthing suites, each featuring a Jacuzzi^TM tub, and private postpartum suites. Telemetry monitors ensure baby’s safety while allowing laboring mothers to walk about, use a birthing ball, shower, or relax in the Jacuzzi^TM. To allow for skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, radiant heaters on the ceiling keep mom and baby warm and comfortable. The four postpartum rooms allow moms to be close to their babies for their entire stay after the baby is born.

The Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care provides comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological care with a family-centered focus and individualized support services and has been nationally certified Baby Friendly since 2010. This certification recognizes hospitals that have made a dedicated commitment to help mothers with breastfeeding, providing the tools and support for moms to be successful with breastfeeding, including training and educational programs for both staff and parents. They also offer a nurturing environment that supports mother and infant bonding immediately after delivery.