Saint Peter’s University Hospital is certified in Perinatal Care and verified as a Level IV Maternal Care facility by The Joint Commission; and its Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program, offered collaboratively with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), named Saint Peter’s University Hospital as the first Level IV maternal-care verified facility in New Jersey. This is the highest level attainable and a recognition requiring an arduous review process.
As a Level IV facility, Saint Peter’s is recognized for its on-site medical and surgical care of the most complex maternal conditions and critically ill pregnant women and babies before, during and after pregnancy. Saint Peter’s recently expanded the ability to view fetal heart rate monitoring for a mother — whether she’s in the labor and delivery unit or in the adult intensive care unit — by looking at one big monitor that’s tracking all the information for providers on all floors. This procedure increases situational awareness by monitoring what’s happening with babies in every unit simultaneously.
The Kanter family welcomed their son Ryan earlier than expected, born at 22 weeks and weighing 1 pound, 2 ounces.
Saint Peter’s underwent a comprehensive two-day on-site review by a Joint Commission surveyor to verify the level of care provided. The evaluation included the observation and assessment of best practices including compliance with the organization’s policies and procedures related to maternity care. The surveyor spoke directly with patients and tracked them through all phases of care, interviewing staff; assessing Saint Peter’s performance improvement plan; reviewing staff education; and completing a full review of the hospital’s credentialing/privileging process related to maternal health care. Unit tours included observation and inspection of every stage of care and interaction, from admission to labor and delivery to the neonatal intensive care unit, as well. The assessment also included oversight of processes related to patient education and staff communication.
“We are honored to be the first hospital in New Jersey to achieve The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care Verification as a Level IV facility,” said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “While Saint Peter’s has long been recognized for its comprehensive maternal health services, The Joint Commission’s verification offers further validation that we are equipped to deliver care at all levels — from low-risk pregnancies to the most complex cases.”
After 143 days in the NICU, the health care team and parents Evan Kanter and Sobina Chi, celebrated Ryan’s discharge taking him home right before this past Thanksgiving.
Saint Peter’s also earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Perinatal Care, a symbol of quality that reflects the organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality care for mothers and infants leading up to, during and after pregnancy. The Joint Commission has commended Saint Peter’s for its efforts to standardize maternal care and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. In 2022 and 2023, Saint Peter’s was recognized by Newsweek as one of the nation’s Best Maternity Hospitals.
Saint Peter’s is a state-designated Regional Perinatal Center that includes an award-winning Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and its Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center is New Jersey’s first birth center to be located on the grounds of a hospital and the first hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center in the state to be accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers.
To learn more about Saint Peter’s comprehensive maternity services, visit saintpetershcs.com/maternity.
