Future mothers now have more reasons to trust that they and their infants will receive the highest quality care at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). The Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative (GaPQC), a group working to improve the quality of care for Georgia mothers and babies, recently recognized NGMC’s Women & Children’s Services for their work to improve maternal and infant health care.
“Receiving this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire Women & Children’s team,” said Heather Standard, executive director for NGMC’s Women & Children’s Services. “Welcoming a new baby to the world should be a time only for joy. That’s why we are focused on delivering exceptional care to provide that peace of mind.”
NGMC received more awards than any other health system in the state including:
Galaxy Award: NGMC hospitals in Braselton, Gainesville and Habersham each received this award which recognizes hospitals exhibiting profound engagement with the GaPQC and Maternal Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Initiatives. ECHO allows physicians, nurses and healthcare workers to stay current with best-practices and availability of resources across the state. By educating providers in the communities, patient care can be positively impacted.
Alpha Award: NGMC as whole received this award for showcasing a steadfast commitment to data transparency and accountability.
Path to Excellence Award: The Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at NGMC Braselton and NGMC Gainesville each received this award for their tireless dedication to advancing maternal and infant health by spearheading initiatives that focus on education, training and capacity-building within their respective regions.
Stellar Impact Award: The NICU teams at NGMC Braselton and NGMC Gainesville, along with the Mother/Baby Unit at NGMC Gainesville, received this award for showcasing exemplary dedication and innovation in implementing evidence-based strategies to effectively address hypertension-related (high blood pressure) challenges.
“NGMC remains committed to reducing infant and maternal mortality rates,” said Mary Lou Wilson, women’s service line administrator at NGMC. “This achievement places us among the leading hospitals in Georgia dedicated to saving lives and setting new standards in perinatal care.”
GaPQC was formed in 2012 to address Georgia’s continued ranking as one of the 10 worst states for maternal death. The state of Georgia has seen a decline in maternal and infant mortality rates over the past five years, but the rates remain above the national average. The collaborative is made up of a network of neonatologists, obstetricians, midwives, birthing centers, public health professionals and other stakeholders, all working to improve maternal mortality in Georgia through technical assistance, quality improvement training, education and data support to hospitals.
For more information about NGMC’s Women & Children’s Services, visit nghs.com/women-children.