Saint Francis Hospital Named to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care

“We are so honored that U.S. News & World Report recognized Saint Francis Hospital for the outstanding care provided by our maternity team,” said Valerie Powell-Stafford, President, Saint Francis Hospital. “This award underscores the dedication our team has to providing the highest quality care with a patient-centered, compassionate approach to families in our community.”

U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. For the 2026 edition, a record-breaking 901 hospitals submitted maternity data for evaluation. These public ratings assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care for uncomplicated births.

“Choosing where to welcome a new baby is one of the most personal health care decisions a family makes. Expectant parents can use U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care to compare key outcomes and support services at maternity hospitals in their area,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “Whether your priority is a low C-section rate, strong VBAC support or the availability of a dedicated lactation consultant, U.S. News’ digital hospital profiles offer patients free, transparent information as they choose a hospital for maternity care.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates and exclusive breast milk feeding rates, among other measures. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics as well as maternity-related programs, services and support on the U.S. News website to help them decide where to give birth.