“I am incredibly proud of Southcoast Health’s commitment to bringing exceptional maternity care to our
community,” said Ray Kruger, MD, FACS, President and CEO of Southcoast Health. “This is the highest
ranking a hospital can earn from U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, and I would like to thank
everyone whose hard work and dedication made this achievement possible.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals that provide high-quality labor & delivery services for
uncomplicated pregnancies for its 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Fewer than half of all
hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation
and only four hospitals in Massachusetts made the list.

The annual evaluation is designed to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their doctors, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care. Southcoast Hospitals, including Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, earned a High Performing
designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as newborn complication rates.

“We are proud to be recognized again this year as a premier destination for maternity services,” says Kim
Pina, RN, Executive Director of the Family Centered Unit/Level II Nursery & Pediatrics at St. Luke’s
Hospital. “I am honored to work with our incredible staff who continually goes above and beyond for
every patient.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of
quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast
milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, among
other measures.

“Earning this national recognition demonstrates the ongoing commitment and dedication of our providers, nurses, and staff to continue bringing the highest quality care to our community,” said Christian Pope, DO, FACOG Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology for Southcoast Health. “Joining Southcoast Health
earlier this year, I am inspired by the remarkable accomplishments our team has made to date, and am
looking forward to continuing Southcoast’s mission to provide exceptional women’s health care close to
home.”

For more information, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. To learn more about maternity services at
Southcoast Health, please visit www.southcoast.org/services/maternity-services/.

Maternity maternity services