Huntington Hospital has been recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity.

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity, hospitals had to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complication rates, C-sections, whether births were scheduled too early in pregnancy, and how successfully each hospital supported breastfeeding. Only one-third of the hospitals evaluated by U.S. News for maternity care earned a ‘High Performing’ rating.

“All families deserve to be informed on how hospitals perform on key indicators of quality, which is why U.S. News has compiled and published a trove of maternal health data from hospitals across the country,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report. “The hospitals we’ve recognized as High Performing meet a high standard in caring for patients with uncomplicated pregnancies.”

Huntington Hospital earned a “High Performing” rating in Best Hospitals for Maternity. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for that type of care.

“Deciding where to have a baby is an immense life decision, and we are so honored to provide our expectant parents with safe, custom birth experiences at our hospital,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “We have a long history of exceptional maternal care which spans generations within our community, and this latest distinction is a testament to our continued growth and commitment to providing safe, excellent care to our patients and babies. Congratulations to the dedicated nurses, physicians, and staff at our Family Birth Center and Mother and Baby Unit for earning this inaugural designation in maternity from U.S. News & World Report. I’m very proud of their work and this achievement.”

Unique to the U.S. News site, participating hospital profiles are a one-stop-shop and include a variety of relevant offerings for parents-to-be including key measures of safety, alongside services and amenities, like private rooms, valet parking, and availability of child birthing classes.

The evaluation looks at hospital data relating to only uncomplicated pregnancies, not high-risk pregnancies. Participating hospitals responded to a survey from the U.S. News health analysis team in the spring of 2021 which reflects data from 2019. Participation was voluntary. We anticipate updating Best Hospitals for Maternity in the summer of 2022, to coincide with the release of the 2022-23 Best Hospitals for Procedures & Conditions ratings.

Learn more about maternity care by finding an OBGYN affiliated with Huntington Hospital and give your baby the best start in life.

Huntington Hospital has recently developed a peer-to-peer recognition program for employees called the Heart of Huntington Award. Inspired by an extraordinary act of kindness experienced by our President and CEO, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, this quarterly award recognizes individuals who make their compassionate caring felt.

During the spring of 2020, Dr. Morgan received a card from a Huntington team member that had a message of thanks and appreciation, along with a small ceramic heart. After reading the card, Dr. Morgan admired the anatomically correct ceramic heart (which, as a trauma surgeon, she appreciated). She was uplifted and deeply touched. This gesture of kindness and caring came at just the right time, exactly when Dr. Morgan needed it.

To this day, Dr. Morgan keeps her card and the perfect little ceramic heart on her desk as a reminder that the smallest acts can make the biggest difference and that we are all in this together.

The person who sent this simple but powerful expression of gratitude is Gaby Kuehl, RN, a nurse in Huntington’s critical care unit. She is now being recognized as the first person to receive the Heart of Huntington Award. Gaby has been described by those she works with as “the kind of caregiver you want working next to you.” She is a team player who always checks on her colleagues to see if there is anything she can help with. Gaby builds trust and collaboration within her team. She is committed to giving patients and their families her full attention, inspiring confidence and compassion when it is needed most.

The second recipient of the Heart of Huntington Award is Kimberly Shriner, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control. Dr. Shriner is an expert in infectious disease and was at the forefront of the AIDS epidemic. Today, she is Huntington’s source of truth when it comes to battling COVID-19, guiding Huntington’s efforts both inside and outside of its walls. During these fearful times, her trusted advice has reduced anxiety for many and ensured Huntington’s course was based on good science and clinical evidence.

Dr. Shriner is not only an undisputed expert. She is first and foremost a caregiver who leads with her heart. She is respected by her colleagues, patients and the community for the genuine care she gives to her patients.

Congratulations to Gaby and Dr. Shriner for representing the true heart of Huntington!

As a designated Magnet hospital, Huntington Hospital is a recognized leader in nursing excellence. Every day, our nurses go above and beyond for our patients, and we are proud to recognize them for their efforts. Huntington Hospital’s June DAISY Award winner, Samantha Aispuro, RN, was nominated by a patient’s family member who wrote the following:

Haley recently cared for a young patient who received tragic news at the beginning of her shift. She handled this patients care with elegance, compassion, and dignity. Haley graciously went above and beyond to make sure the patient and partners feelings, concerns, and beliefs were addressed and respected. Haley prayed with her patient. She placed together a special memory box for her patient that contained unique mementos and a beautiful, signed card. The patient stated that Haley was truly a godsend and emphasized she could not have done this without the love, support, encouragement, and empowerment Haley gave. She exceeded beyond the call of her nursing duty. I have known Haley since she started as a new graduate and have witnessed her blossom into a compassionate, enthusiastic, and extraordinary nurse.

Congratulations, Samantha, for your well-deserved DAISY Award! For more information about the DAISY Award, please visit  https://www.huntingtonhospital.org/about-us/nursing/daisy-award/.

As a designated Magnet hospital, Huntington Hospital is a recognized leader in nursing excellence. Every day, our nurses go above and beyond for our patients, and we are proud to recognize them for their efforts. Huntington Hospital’s April DAISY Award winner Haley Keavy, FBC, was nominated by a colleague who wrote the following:

Haley recently cared for a young patient who received tragic news at the beginning of her shift. She handled this patients care with elegance, compassion, and dignity. Haley graciously went above and beyond to make sure the patient and partners feelings, concerns, and beliefs were addressed and respected. Haley prayed with her patient. She placed together a special memory box for her patient that contained unique mementos and a beautiful, signed card. The patient stated that Haley was truly a godsend and emphasized she could not have done this without the love, support, encouragement, and empowerment Haley gave. She exceeded beyond the call of her nursing duty. I have known Haley since she started as a new graduate and have witnessed her blossom into a compassionate, enthusiastic, and extraordinary nurse.

Congratulations, Haley, for your well-deserved DAISY Award! For more information about the DAISY Award, please visit  https://www.huntingtonhospital.com/daisyform.