Three Corridor hospitals have earned recognition as high-performing maternity care centers in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care rankings.
UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, along with University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City, received the highest designation available in the annual evaluation. Nationwide, 899 hospitals providing labor and delivery services were evaluated, and approximately half earned recognition.
The rankings, now in their fifth year, evaluate hospitals based on cesarean and episiotomy rates, unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices, transparency on racial/ethnic disparities and best practices that support breastfeeding.
Hospitals must submit extensive clinical data and meet rigorous quality standards for uncomplicated pregnancies to qualify.
“This designation reflects the dedication of our care teams who provide safe, compassionate, family-centered care to every mother and newborn who comes through our doors,” said Kathie Manderscheid, women’s and children’s services director at St. Luke’s Hospital, located at 1026 A Avenue in Cedar Rapids.
This is the third consecutive year Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids has received the distinction. The hospital – located at 701 10th St. SE in Cedar Rapids – attributes the ranking to its commitment in providing safe, evidence-based and family-centered care for expectant parents, said Emily Ludovissy, director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Mercy Medical Center.
“Our team consistently meets key quality measures, including lower rates of C-sections and severe newborn complications, as well as strong support for breastfeeding and maternal well-being,” she said, in a statement. “We are proud to help families welcome their babies in an environment focused on The Mercy Touch, offering the safe, compassionate, and personalized care patients have come to expect.”
UI Health Care Medical Center, located at 200 Hawkins Drive in Iowa City, serves as Iowa’s only Level IV maternal care facility, a state designation for hospitals equipped to handle the most medically complex patients.
“This national recognition is a testament to the dedication of our care teams who continue to provide the highest-quality obstetric care while adapting to an ever-changing health care landscape as Iowans face limited offerings for maternal care,” said Dr. Christian Pettker, department executive officer and the Jennifer R. Niebyl Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UI Health Care.
Dr. Pettker expressed hope that the recognition would help attract new obstetrician-gynecologists to collaborate in improving maternal health across Iowa, particularly in rural communities.
U.S. News launched its maternity hospital evaluations in 2021 to provide transparency in labor and delivery services quality. The ratings serve as a resource for expectant parents and prenatal care teams making decisions about maternity care.
Other Iowa hospitals that achieved recognition as high-performing maternity care centers include MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion, MercyOne Birth Center in Mason City and Shenandoah Medical Center.
To see the U.S. News and World Report’s full list of rankings, visit here.
