SHREVEPORT, La. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Ochsner LSU Health – St. Mary Medical Center as a 2025 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study.
St. Mary Medical Center earned a High Performing designation in recognition of its maternity care as measured by factors such as birthing-friendly practices, favorable rates for unexpected newborn complications, and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures. The hospital provides an array of women’s services and is the largest birthing center in north Louisiana and third largest in the state with more than 2,400 babies delivered last year. Additionally, it is the only hospital in the area with OB/GYNs and anesthesiologists onsite 24/7.
“We are incredibly proud of the team at St. Mary Medical Center for the work they do every day to ensure our patients are given the best possible care, especially for our new moms and their babies,” said Riley Waddell, chief executive officer of Ochsner LSU Health – St. Mary Medical Center. “Providing a safe, nurturing environment in those first days of their lives together creates the foundation for a happy, healthy journey for families. Our St. Mary Medical Center team excels at this level of maternity and perinatal care and is extremely deserving of this recognition.”
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. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meets their family’s needs.
“This ranking is a testament to the compassion and expertise of our entire team – obstetricians, nurse practitioners, pediatricians, neonatologists and nurses who care for expecting mothers and their babies,” said Dr. LaTashia Upton, OB/GYN and chief medical officer at St. Mary Medical Center. “From comprehensive prenatal care to a personalized delivery experience through complete postpartum and pediatric services, we provide an array of resources and are committed to providing the best care for mothers, babies and the entire family.”
U.S. News evaluated 817 hospitals from across the United States. Only half of all hospitals evaluated for U.S. News’ 2025 ratings edition have been recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
“The hospitals recognized by U.S. News as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”
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, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, birthing-friendly practices and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
For more information about Ochsner LSU Health and women’s services, please visit www.ochsnerlsuhs.org. For more information on U.S. News World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.