QVMC recognized for providing high-quality maternity care

Napa Valley hospital receives two national awards for commitment to best practices

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center was recently honored by the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) – a member organization that aims to improve health outcomes for women and mothers – with two quality and engagement awards for providing exceptional care to Napa Valley women and their families.

“As the only labor and delivery unit in the Napa Valley, Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is dedicated to ensuring mothers and their babies receive the highest quality obstetrical care that is close to home,” Chief Executive Terry Wooten said. “We are honored to receive this recognition, which is a testament to the care and expertise of our board-certified obstetricians and the compassionate, world-class neonatology and nursing teams at our hospital.”

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center was one of 10 hospitals throughout the state to earn the Quality and Sustainability Award: QI Academy Collaborative Hospitals for completing CMQCC’s year-long mentorship program and for meeting its quality initiative for cesarean births among low-risk, first-time mothers, also known as Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV).

This means that the Queen achieved and surpassed the target cesarean birth rate for first-time pregnant women three years in a row. The target cesarean birth rate among these mothers was 23.9% for 2020 and 23.6% for 2021 and 2022; however, Providence Queen of the Valley met and exceed these goals in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“The low C-section rate means that new moms avoid having major abdominal surgery when it is not medically needed. Clinical research has shown that this prevents longer recovery times, surgery complications and effects on subsequent births,” Chief Nursing Officer Tarinder Khatkar said. “The team at the Queen believes in using the latest medical guidelines and practices to care for our youngest patients and their families.”

In addition to this recognition, the Napa Valley hospital earned the Superstar Award: Small Birth Volume Hospitals for actively participating in educational opportunities and utilizing the organization’s Maternal Data Center, which tracks maternity care performance and identifies perinatal quality improvement opportunities for hospitals across California.

This is the third year CMQCC is hosting its Quality and Engagement Awards to honor member hospitals for excellence in maternity care and engagement with CMQCC’s quality improvement tools, education and clinical guidance. Overall, 121 hospitals and one hospital system earned awards in 2023.

“Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is humbled to be among the hospitals recognized by the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative this year,” Khatkar said. “We are grateful to our nurses and physicians for their dedication to clinical excellence and compassionate care.”