Lexington, KY – Four Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) birthing hospitals have been recognized by the Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KyPQC) for their commitment to improving care and outcomes for mothers and babies.

Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center, Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center, Middlesboro ARH Hospital and Whitesburg ARH Hospital received honors for the third consecutive year, recognizing their continued commitment to quality improvement, data excellence and initiatives designed to strengthen maternal and infant health.

“We’re proud that our system has been recognized by the Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative. This honor reflects our team’s commitment to the health and safety of mothers and infants across our communities,” said Jonathan Koonce, Chief Executive Officer of Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center. “We’re grateful for the dedication of our nurses, physicians and staff who make this level of care possible every day.”

The Hospital Distinction in SUD Screening Awards and Hospital Distinction in NAS Awards were presented July 22 during the Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Lexington. The event was hosted by KyPQC and the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Task Force (KyMMM).

The recognition reflects the work of ARH teams to ensure mothers, infants and families have access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home. Through participation in statewide quality initiatives, ARH birthing hospitals continue to demonstrate how rural healthcare providers can play an important role in advancing maternal and infant health.

The awards highlight ongoing efforts across ARH to address the impact of substance use on families by ensuring universal screenings and evidence-based interventions are available to support the health and well-being of mothers and newborns.

The four hospitals were also recognized for their leadership and commitment to improving postpartum care through participation in a pilot program to implement a postpartum discharge checklist.

ARH has continued to expand its collaboration with KyPQC and other partners to include additional maternal health initiatives focused on improving the recognition and management of maternal hypertension and strengthening postpartum discharge practices to support safer transitions of care for mothers and their families.

KyPQC is a statewide network dedicated to improving the health and well-being of mothers and infants from pregnancy through delivery and throughout the first year of life by working with hospitals across Kentucky on quality improvement initiatives.

ARH birthing hospitals participate in KyPQC efforts to identify mothers with substance use disorder and connect them with community resources, as well as efforts to improve the reporting of babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which can occur when a newborn experiences withdrawal from substances to which they were exposed before birth.

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