AdventHealth Zephyrhills Recognized as a Maternal Levels of Care Verified Hospital

June 28, 2024 — AdventHealth Zephyrhills has been recognized as a Maternal Levels of Care verified hospital by The Joint Commission through its collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and support from the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative. The national verification is awarded to those hospitals who meet comprehensive maternal standards of care based on guidelines established by ACOG that work to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

“This verification solidifies for our community that you don’t have to travel far to receive the highest level of maternal care in Pasco County,” said AdventHealth Zephyrhills Chief Nursing Officer, Gwen Alonso. “We recognize the significance of providing this type of access to care and this shows we are continuously working towards the best medical outcomes for mothers and babies in our community.”

To achieve this verification, AdventHealth Zephyrhills voluntarily went through a rigorous independent review to verify that it has the right staff, equipment, resources and processes in place to provide risk-appropriate maternal care. Verification assures a mom that our facility has the clinical capabilities and expertise to safely deliver services.

The verification process also includes a comprehensive on-site assessment, evaluation of maternal care capabilities and a policy compliance review. The verification designated AdventHealth Zephyrhills as a Level I facility, which means we have demonstrated we can care for Care for low to moderate-risk pregnancies, detect, stabilize, and initiate management of unanticipated maternal-fetal or neonatal challenges that occur throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period until the patient can be transferred to a facility where specialized maternity care is available.

“We are thrilled to see this degree of early enthusiasm for ACOG Levels of Maternal Care in the State of Florida,” said Cole Greves, MD, Chair of ACOG District XII. “Through this program, our hospitals have shown an increased commitment to improving the lives of mothers by always ensuring access to risk appropriate care. We anticipate an increased level of collaboration to promote high quality and safe care that will move the needle toward a reduction in maternal mortality in our state.”

The national verification program's goal is to halt and ideally reduce the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality by encouraging systems to standardize perinatal practice through the delivery of risk-appropriate maternal care.

The Maternal Levels of Care Verification program was developed using guidelines based on the Obstetric Care Consensus jointly established by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. This clinical guidance includes comprehensive uniform definitions, a standardized description of maternity facility capabilities and personnel, and a framework for integrated systems that address maternal health needs. To learn more, visit the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative website.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills has OB/GYNs and Birth Advocates and The Baby Place® at AdventHealth Zephyrhills has been awarded the Florida Hospital Association’s Excellence in Maternity Care for reducing unnecessary C-Sections. It is an award given to less than two dozen hospitals in the state of Florida in 2024.

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About AdventHealth Zephyrhills

AdventHealth Zephyrhills is a 149-bed acute care hospital and is a member of the faith-based AdventHealth System, providing a connected network of care in nearly a dozen states with more than 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites. Since 1985, the hospital has provided award-winning care with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ. The hospital offers a wide variety of services to include heart care, orthopedics, women’s health, surgical care, digestive health, robotic technology, a 24/7 emergency room with online scheduling and more. With a focus on whole-person care, skilled and compassionate caregivers provide individualized care for body, mind and spirit. To learn more about the hospital’s services, visit AHZephyrhills.com