The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) have recognized several hospitals in the Shreveport-Bossier City area for their commitment to improving maternal health outcomes. CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier – Highland Medical Center, Willis-Knighton Bossier Health Center, and Willis-Knighton South and the Center for Women’s Health have earned the prestigious Louisiana Birth Ready Designation, demonstrating their dedication to quality improvement in maternal care.
This designation is awarded to hospitals that implement policies and procedures to enhance the recognition and response to clinical causes of severe maternal morbidity while fostering patient partnerships. Birth Ready+ Designation is granted to hospitals that exceed these standards and achieve a higher level of compliance.
Statewide, 35 of Louisiana’s 46 birthing hospitals have achieved either Birth Ready or Birth Ready+ status, with Willis-Knighton Bossier Health Center earning this recognition for the first time in 2025.
“The redevelopment of maternal care services is vital to ensuring safe deliveries and reducing complications,” said Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham. “I applaud these hospitals for their dedication to improving birth outcomes for Louisiana families.”
Local Hospitals Recognized for Birth Ready and Birth Ready+ Designation
- Birth Ready Designation:
- CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier – Highland Medical Center
- Willis-Knighton Bossier Health Center (newly designated)
- Willis-Knighton South and the Center for Women’s Health
- Birth Ready+ Designation:
- Ochsner LSU Health – St. Mary Medical Center
Hospitals that achieve these distinctions must undergo a rigorous review process and demonstrate evidence-based practices that improve maternal care. Many of these facilities have collaborated with the LaPQC for years to drive improvements in labor and delivery outcomes.
“Birthing hospitals across Louisiana are working diligently to ensure safe and patient-centered care,” said Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, medical director of the LaPQC. “Achieving this designation is a testament to the hospitals’ commitment to reducing maternal complications and ensuring the best possible outcomes for families.”
A Commitment to Better Birth Outcomes
The LaPQC is a statewide initiative focused on reducing maternal and infant mortality through the adoption of evidence-based practices. The program aims to address key contributors to poor birth outcomes while promoting equitable, high-quality maternity care.
For more information about the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation, visit lapqc.org.