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MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has been named one of America’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals by Newsweek for the fifth consecutive year, receiving the publication’s highest five-ribbon rating.
The designation is based on data from nationwide surveys of hospital leaders and maternity care professionals, performance indicators tied to maternal and newborn care, and patient satisfaction scores.
Trey Abshier, CEO and President of Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, credited hospital staff for the recognition. “The doctors, nurses, and associates that work in the Family Birth Place consider their jobs as a calling to serve our community,” Abshier said. “We thank them for their commitment to quality, personalized care that earns these awards.”
In addition to the Newsweek honor, the hospital received recognition from U.S. News & World Report as a 2025 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care—the highest distinction offered in that publication’s maternity hospital rankings.
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Sacred Heart Emerald Coast was also named a Maternity Care Access Hospital by U.S. News, a designation awarded to hospitals that serve at-risk or underserved communities. Only 14% of evaluated hospitals received this designation.
“One of the cornerstones of our mission is the care of moms and babies,” said Erica Bottom, Family Birth Place Manager for Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “Our Family Birth Place team actively participates in initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes.”
The hospital is also recognized as a Baby-Friendly facility, meaning it meets international breastfeeding education and support standards. It is the only hospital in the local area with that accreditation.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast’s Family Birth Place was recently verified for its maternal care services by The Joint Commission in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
In 2023, Sacred Heart began participating in Florida’s postpartum wristband initiative. The program encourages new mothers to wear a silver wristband for up to a year following childbirth to help healthcare providers identify them quickly in emergency or routine care settings.
The hospital is home to the region’s only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) serving families in Walton and Okaloosa counties. Last week, the NICU marked five years of service and has served more than 1,000 families since it opened. Neonatal specialists are on site 24/7.
Ascension Sacred Heart operates five hospitals and more than 100 care sites across the region. In fiscal year 2024, the organization reported providing more than $193 million in community benefits and care for vulnerable patients.
