U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Amberwell Hiawatha as a 2026 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, now in its fifth edition.
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, approximately 900 hospitals nationwide submitted maternity data for evaluation.
“Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders. This recognition means they are consistently hitting crucial patient safety benchmarks compared to other hospitals,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “It’s a clear signal to expectant parents about where the highest standards of care are being practiced – when parents see this designation, they can be assured they are choosing a hospital dedicated to exceptional, evidence-based maternity care.”
Amberwell Hiawatha earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and birthing-friendly practices, among other measures.
In addition to being awarded the High Performing rating, Amberwell Hiawatha was named a 2026 Maternity Care Access Hospital. This designation recognizes essential hospitals serving communities that would otherwise be in danger of becoming maternity care deserts if they were to stop providing crucial maternity care services.
Chelsea James, Director of Maternal Care at Amberwell Hiawatha, shared her appreciation for the team: “These recognitions reflect the compassion and expertise our staff bring to every birth. We are committed to supporting mothers and babies throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the early days of welcoming a new child.”
Amberwell Hiawatha’s maternal care program is designed to support families with personalized attention from experienced nurses, a secure and comfortable birthing unit, on-site resources, and thoughtful touches that help new parents feel supported and prepared for their transition home.