Westmoreland Hospital Named High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care and Maternity Care Access Hospital by U.S. News & World Report

Greensburg, Pa., December 9, 2025 – Independence Health System has once again been recognized for its outstanding performance in maternity care. U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Westmoreland Hospital as a as a 2026 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care and a 2026 Maternity Care Access Hospital. 

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, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and birthing-friendly practices, among other measures. 

“We are so proud of our expert maternity care and the prestigious U.S. News recognition,” said Dr.  Randi Turkewitz, Chief of Women’s Health Services at Westmoreland Hospital. “This recent accolade reflects our team’s dedication to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and ensuring that families in our region don’t have to travel far for safe deliveries and essential prenatal care services.”

This 2026 Maternity Care Access Hospital designation recognizes hospitals offering essential maternity services to underserved communities and is also part of U.S. News' Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings. These ratings are intended to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs. 

“Being recognized as 2026 Maternity Care Access Hospital underscores our commitment to ensuring that every family in our community has access to safe, high-quality maternity care, “said Brian Fritz, president of Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals. “We are proud to play a vital role in providing expert care here, and supporting healthy beginnings for mothers and babies.”

Now in its third year, the Maternity Care Access Hospital designation recognizes essential hospitals serving communities that would otherwise be in danger of becoming maternity care deserts if they were to stop providing crucial maternity care services.

“The Maternity Care Access Hospital designation is a crucial acknowledgement of hospitals that deliver high-quality maternity care in underserved areas,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “These 147 hospitals are essential – they meet U.S. News’ strict quality measures for safety and outcomes while simultaneously ensuring that geographical isolation does not prevent families from receiving the care they need.”

U.S. News evaluated approximately 900 hospitals nationwide for the 2026 ratings, and just 147 hospitals – or 16% of all evaluated hospitals – have been designated as Maternity Care Access Hospitals. Hospitals were evaluated based on detailed data submitted to U.S. News via the annual Maternity Services Survey.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and use #BestMaternityHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X.

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About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services. 

About Independence Health System

Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning a multi-county region. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.