Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center earns CMS birthing-friendly designation

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced its designation as a birthing-friendly hospital by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This designation recognizes NFMMC's compliance with the CMS's maternal morbidity structural measure under the hospital inpatient quality reporting (IQR) program, “underscoring the hospital's commitment to superior maternity care.”

"Being recognized as a birthing-friendly hospital by the CMS honors our commitment and reflects our dedication to providing high-quality maternity care," said Sheila Kee, chief operating officer at NFMMC. "We are devoted to supporting the Niagara Region's families with outstanding prenatal and postnatal care."

The designation was established in 2023 by the CMS to help individuals identify hospitals and health systems participating in a statewide or national perinatal quality improvement collaborative program and implementing evidence-based care to improve maternal health.

NFMMC stated, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 80% of deaths related to pregnancy could have been avoided. Moreover, these deaths have a more significant impact on individuals belonging to certain ethnic groups such as Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. The birthing-friendly designation ensures every pregnant and postpartum individual can effectively determine which facilities they can trust to provide access to quality maternity care.

“Aligned with its birthing-friendly designation, NFMMC's Women's Health Services of Niagara continues to uphold a high standard of maternal and women's health care. The facility offers comprehensive obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health services across all life stages. Board-certified OB/GYNs and medical professionals at NFMMC are committed to empowering patients by providing essential support and information for making informed health decisions.”

NFMMC's labor and delivery services feature private rooms that accommodate all stages of childbirth in one continuous environment. The neonatal resuscitation program-certified team offers 24-hour support, including lactation consulting, and collaborates with Oishei Children's Hospital to enhance care for mothers and newborns.

The hospital noted, “By the end of this year, all nurses at NFMMC will be nationally certified for electronic fetal monitoring, significantly enhancing safety during childbirth.”