Top 5 Wisconsin Hospitals for Maternity Care Ranked in 2024
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Summarizing Wisconsin’s Best‑Ranked Maternity Care Hospitals
The Patch‑Milwaukee article “These WI hospitals are ranked among best maternity care” (published 12 Feb 2024) pulls together the most recent data from national ranking bodies to spotlight the state’s top hospitals for maternity services. Using the 2023–24 U.S. News & World Report rankings as its primary benchmark, the piece lists five Wisconsin facilities that consistently appear in the upper echelons of the “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” category. It also explains the criteria behind the rankings and offers readers quick links to each hospital’s own information page for deeper exploration.
1. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) is the state’s flagship pediatric institution and, unsurprisingly, its top‑ranked maternity hospital. The article notes that CHW’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services the 5,400 births that the hospital records annually. The ranking cites CHW’s high delivery‑outcome scores, including a low rate of neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as a strong track record of patient satisfaction. CHW’s dedication to family‑centered care—highlighted by the hospital’s “Birth in the Backyard” program and the availability of doula services—were also highlighted in the article. A link at the bottom of the article directs readers to the hospital’s own website, where they can learn more about the perinatal program and the newborn care team.
2. St. Luke’s Hospital – Milwaukee
The second‑ranked facility is St. Luke’s Hospital, part of the St. Luke’s Health System. The article stresses that St. Luke’s sees approximately 4,300 births a year and is known for its robust midwifery‑led maternity wards. In the U.S. News rankings, St. Luke’s earned top marks for both obstetric and neonatal quality metrics, such as the lowest rates of cesarean deliveries among large‑volume hospitals. The hospital’s “Whole‑Person” care model—integrating obstetricians, midwives, and neonatal specialists—was cited as a key contributor to its high outcomes. A clickable link in the article opens St. Luke’s “Maternity & Neonatal Care” page, where parents can read about the program’s history, its family‑centered rooms, and the array of support services available during pregnancy and postpartum.
3. University Hospital – Milwaukee
University Hospital (also in Milwaukee) occupies the third spot in the ranking. With an annual birth volume of roughly 4,000, University Hospital’s Level II NICU and its comprehensive obstetric team earned it high rankings for both patient safety and clinical outcomes. The article mentions that the hospital’s research affiliation with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has fostered evidence‑based practices, such as standardized labor protocols that have cut prolonged labor and low‑volume obstetric interventions. The hospital’s “Maternity & Childbirth Center” link on the article offers deeper insights into its educational initiatives and community outreach programs.
4. Mercy Hospital – Waukesha
The next in line is Mercy Hospital in Waukesha, which the article identifies as having a strong record in both obstetric and neonatal care. Mercy’s 3,200 births per year are supported by a Level II NICU that provides care for infants born prematurely or with low birth weight. The ranking credits Mercy’s low infant readmission rates and the hospital’s integration of a birthing center that offers both traditional labor suites and freestanding birthrooms. Readers can click through the article to Mercy Hospital’s maternity‑care page, which details the hospital’s partnership with the Mercy Health network and the availability of midwife‑led deliveries.
5. St. Joseph’s Hospital – La Crosse
The final hospital in the list is St. Joseph’s Hospital in La Crosse. St. Joseph’s delivers approximately 2,800 babies each year and houses a Level II NICU. The article emphasizes St. Joseph’s commitment to reducing racial disparities in maternity outcomes, noting its high scores for maternal mortality and postpartum complications. The hospital’s community‑focused programs—such as the “Parenting & Wellness” outreach—are highlighted, and a link directs readers to the hospital’s perinatal page for further detail.
How the Rankings Are Determined
The article offers a concise overview of the methodology employed by U.S. News & World Report and its partner, Healthgrades, to evaluate maternity hospitals. The criteria include:
- Clinical Outcomes – Mortality, morbidity, and readmission rates for both mother and newborn.
- Patient Experience – Survey responses on communication, pain control, and overall satisfaction.
- Safety Measures – Compliance with national safety protocols, infection rates, and staff-to-patient ratios.
- Volume of Care – A higher birth volume generally signals more specialized experience; hospitals with fewer than 1,500 births are excluded from the rankings.
The article also acknowledges that the rankings consider data from the last five years, ensuring that hospitals are evaluated on sustained performance rather than a single year’s performance. A link to the U.S. News “Hospital Quality” page is provided for readers who want to examine the raw numbers behind the rankings.
Context: Wisconsin’s Maternal Health Landscape
While the article focuses on the top performers, it also places them in the broader context of state‑wide maternal health. Wisconsin’s maternal mortality rate is 20.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, slightly above the national average. The article notes that the hospitals highlighted have made public commitments to reducing disparities, including targeted support for low‑income and rural mothers. It points to ongoing initiatives such as the state’s Maternal Health Initiative, which aims to bring evidence‑based practices from high‑ranking hospitals into smaller facilities across Wisconsin.
Take‑Away for Expecting Parents
The article’s tone is practical and supportive. It encourages parents to consider these top‑ranked hospitals as part of their birthing plan, while also reminding them that the quality of care can be influenced by individual provider relationships, insurance coverage, and personal comfort with the hospital’s birthing philosophy. The article includes a “Maternity Care Checklist” that parents can download, and it invites readers to leave comments with their own experiences at the listed hospitals.
Bottom Line
The Patch‑Milwaukee article delivers a clear, data‑driven snapshot of Wisconsin’s best maternity care hospitals, backed by national rankings and supplemented with links to each hospital’s dedicated maternity pages. It offers an overview of what makes each facility stand out—whether it’s a high volume of births, specialized NICU services, or a commitment to equity—and situates those strengths within the state’s ongoing challenge of improving maternal outcomes. For parents navigating their birthing options, the piece serves as a useful starting point, providing both the hard numbers behind the rankings and the contextual information needed to make an informed choice.
Read the Full Patch Article at:
[ https://patch.com/wisconsin/milwaukee/these-wi-hospitals-are-ranked-among-best-maternity-care ]