U.S. News & World Report Recognizes North Oaks Medical Center Among the 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care

The North Oaks Medical Center Women & Children's Services team proudly announces its rating by U.S. News and World Report as “High Performing in Maternity Care” and as a “Maternity Care Access Hospital” for 2025.

The high performing award from the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice places North Oaks Medical Center among the top healthcare institutions in the nation for maternity services. Out of the 817 birthing hospitals across the nation that participated in the survey, half received the high performing rating, and North Oaks is one of seven Louisiana hospitals so recognized.

"We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News as a High Performing Maternity Care Hospital and take pride in our role as a Maternity Care Access Hospital," asserts Rose McKelvie, Vice President of the Women & Children’s Service Line for North Oaks Health System. "These awards highlight our commitment to providing exceptional care and support to mothers and their newborns. It is a testament to the dedication, skill and compassion of our medical staff, nurses and support teams who work tirelessly to deliver the best outcomes for mothers and babies. As a community hospital, we are deeply committed to creating a safe, supportive and patient-centered environment for all.”

U.S. News introduced the maternity care access award in 2024 to recognize essential hospitals serving communities that would be in danger of becoming maternity care deserts if they were to stop providing crucial services. A growing number of communities in the U.S. lack these services and are considered maternity care deserts.

Only 14% of all U.S. News-evaluated hospitals have been rated as Maternity Care Access Hospitals. Hospitals were evaluated based on detailed data submissions including number of obstetric providers per 10,000 births and quality measures for C-sections to name only a few.

“U.S. News awarded the Maternity Care Access Hospital designation to just 118 hospitals nationwide,” affirms Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals ensure continued access to critical maternity care services and demonstrate their dedication to closing the gap in maternity care deserts.”

In addition to the U.S. News awards, North Oaks Medical Center ranks as a “Louisiana Birth Ready Plus” hospital as designated by the Louisiana Department of Health & the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC). This distinction places North Oaks among 18 birthing hospitals in the state meeting the highest threshold for quality, safety and patient partnership. The hospital also is recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana as a Blue Distinction© Center+ for Maternity Care as part of its Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. North Oaks Medical Center has earned the highest breastfeeding quality “Gift” designation from the Louisiana Department of Health for fully supporting breastfeeding mothers.

Additionally, the hospital's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ranks among the top 25 percent in the nation according to the prestigious Vermont-Oxford Network.

North Oaks Medical Center is the only birthing hospital in Tangipahoa Parish.

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 2025 edition, 817 hospitals, an all-time high, submitted maternity data for evaluation.

To schedule a guided tour of the hospital’s Labor & Delivery floor by appointment, call (985) 230-6295.