10 Ochsner Health Facilities Achieve Birth Ready Designation in Louisiana

Birth Ready Designation celebrates improved perinatal health outcomes, the result of implementing clinical practices that promote safe, equitable, and dignified birth for all birthing persons in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) recently recognized ten Ochsner Health and Ochsner partner facilities that have achieved 2023 Birth Ready Designation for committing to better birth outcomes for mothers in Louisiana.

Birth Ready Designation celebrates improved perinatal health outcomes, the result of implementing clinical practices that promote safe, equitable, and dignified birth for all birthing persons in Louisiana. With two tiers of achievement – Louisiana Birth Ready and Louisiana Birth Ready+ – the designation recognizes consistent, thoughtful healthcare improvement to create a system of sustained evidence-based change.

“It is a privilege to acknowledge these birthing facilities that are working to implement best practices in an equitable way to ensure every woman who gives birth has a safe and dignified birth,” said Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, medical director of the LaPQC, who also serves as Section Head of Women’s Services-Ochsner Health, Kenner. “Through each round of designations, the requirements become more stringent, so to have additional hospitals achieve designation is truly an accomplishment.”

As of 2023, the following Ochsner and partner facilities have achieved Birth Ready Designation:

• CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital
• Ochsner American Legion Hospital
• Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center (new in 2023)
• Ochsner LSU Health Monroe
• Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge
• Ochsner Medical Center Kenner
• Ochsner Medical Center West Bank
• Ochsner St. Anne Hospital (new in 2023)

As of 2023, the following Ochsner facilities have achieved Birth Ready+ Designation:

• Ochsner Baptist Medical Center
• Ochsner LSU Health St. Mary Medical Center

To achieve designation, facilities must meet criteria in five dimensions: participation in collaborative learning; health disparity and patient partnership; policies and procedures; structures and education; and outcome and process measures. Many of the hospitals awarded Designation have been working for years with the LaPQC, implementing evidence-based best practices to address common causes of maternal mortality and morbidity related to hemorrhage and hypertension, as well as practices that promote vaginal birth.

Hospitals that achieve Birth Ready+ Designation have met a higher threshold of compliance and achievement of the requirements.

The work of the LaPQC, an initiative of the Department’s Bureau of Family Health and the Louisiana Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality, is dedicated to improving perinatal and neonatal outcomes across Louisiana. The LaPQC was created to promote evidence-based practices to reduce significant factors that contribute to poor birth outcomes. The collaborative also focuses on promoting health equity and reducing racial and ethnic disparities.

As of 2023, 32 of the state’s 45 hospitals have been recognized as Birth Ready, with nine facilities being recognized as Birth Ready+. For more information on Birth Ready Designation and a full list of hospitals, visit PartnersForFamilyHealth.org/birth-ready