Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Family Birth Place Recognized Nationally

For the fourth year in a row, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has earned a place on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals at the highest five-ribbon level. This distinction highlights facilities that excel in providing exceptional care to mothers, newborns, and their families based on three primary data sources: nationwide online surveys of hospital managers and maternity healthcare professionals, relevant medical key performance indicators, and patient satisfaction data.

“Being recognized nationally year after year is a testament to the continued commitment of our physicians, care teams, and leadership to provide the highest quality of care to all mothers, babies, and families we serve,” said Erica Bottom, MSN, RN-C, OB, Family Birth Place Manager.

In addition to this recognition, Sacred Heart’s Pensacola and Miramar Beach facilities have participated in Florida’s first postpartum wristband initiative. This program provides mothers with a silver rubber wristband to wear voluntarily for up to a year postpartum. This helps prioritize them as patients and highlights their medical history when seeking care through EMS, ERs, or other medical sites.

The hospital has also renewed its Baby-Friendly designation, signifying its commitment to top-tier breastfeeding support and education. It remains the only hospital in the area with this accreditation. Furthermore, Fortune and PINC AI have named the Sacred Heart health system one of the top 15 health systems in the country for 2024.

Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Family Birth Place houses the only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) serving families from Walton and Okaloosa counties. The NICU offers round-the-clock access to neonatal specialists for routine and specialized care.

The complete list of recipients can be found online.