UCSF Medical Center has received the highest possible rating for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report.
The ratings are designed to help expectant parents identify the best hospitals for uncomplicated pregnancies. The survey evaluated 817 hospitals across the country, and rated UCSF Medical Center as “High Performing.”
The assessment reflects the hospital’s high standards and commitment to clinical care teams with a broad array of expertise. At UCSF Health, maternal care teams include nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, generalists, hospitalists, obstetrician anesthesiologists and maternal-fetal medicine providers.
“We represent interdisciplinary collaboration at its best,” said Naghma Farooqi, MD, medical director of the UCSF Birth Center. “Our providers share a common goal of safety, equity and excellence, and work with each patient through constant communication and multiple daily huddles.”
UCSF Medical Center performed well on a broad range of indicators of excellence in maternity care. These include:
- Minimizing avoidable cesarean sections, and having a high rate of vaginal births following C-sections.
- Minimizing the use of episiotomy, which is a cut made in the vagina during childbirth. These are only recommended for specific clinical circumstances.
- Feeding babies breast milk: 82.3% were breastfed at UCSF Health, compared to 57.6% in the West and 49% nationally. Breast milk boosts brain development, as well as the immune system, and it may protect against allergies and asthma.
- Tracking and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities.
Farooqi said UCSF Health is a leader in areas such as deliveries of breech babies, avoiding unnecessary cesareans, and low rates of surgical infections. The UCSF Birth Center also prides itself on innovative programs such as EMBRACE, which provides a model of care for addressing high maternal and infant mortality rates in Black families.
“We’re proud of our staff and the maternity care we deliver,” said Juan Gonzalez-Velez, MD, chief of obstetrics at UCSF and division chief of maternal-fetal medicine. He added that the team strives to provide just, equitable and patient-centered care, cutting-edge research and training for the next generation of leaders.
In July, UCSF Medical Center was named one of the nation’s top hospitals for adult patient care and safety by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Hospitals ranking for 2024-2025, a distinction it has held for many years. UCSF Medical Center also tied for best hospital in California overall for adult care.
About UCSF Health: UCSF Health is recognized worldwide for its innovative patient care, reflecting the latest medical knowledge, advanced technologies and pioneering research. It includes the flagship UCSF Medical Center, which is ranked among the top hospitals nationwide, as well as UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, with campuses in San Francisco and Oakland; two community hospitals, UCSF Health St. Mary’s and UCSF Health Saint Francis; Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital; UCSF Benioff Children’s Physicians; and the UCSF Faculty Practice. These hospitals serve as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco, which is world-renowned for its graduate-level health sciences education and biomedical research. UCSF Health has affiliations with hospitals and health organizations throughout the Bay Area. Visit ucsfhealth.org. Follow UCSF Health on Facebook or on Twitter.