By Debbie Schumacher

VCU Medical Center has been recognized as “High Performing” in maternity care by U.S. News & World Report. Of the 817 national hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey, half received a “High Performing” designation.

Out of the 28 Virginia maternity hospitals on the list, only 10 received the highest accolade for maternity care. VCU Medical Center is the only Richmond area hospital with this designation.

“This recognition affirms our unwavering commitment to providing the highest-quality maternity care, while ensuring access and affordability for everyone,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System. “We are grateful to the families who choose VCU Health to assist in the next great chapter of their lives.”

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, VCU Medical Center had to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complications rate, C-section rate, birth friendly practices and support for vaginal births after a C-section.

“From our certified nurse-midwives who assist with natural, low intervention births to high-risk doctors who manage complicated, high-risk pregnancies – our team incorporates the best practices to give our patients and their families the best outcomes,” said David Chelmow, M.D., chair of VCU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We have the only Center of Excellence in Obstetric Anesthesia in Virginia, the most advanced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the area, and a compassionate team of nurses that keep parents and their babies safe and well cared for.”

VCU Health’s OB-GYN care team aims to empower expecting parents through education and collaboration to ensure they have the birth experience they want. These rankings highlight our impact on patients and families throughout Richmond and beyond.

As the only Baby-Friendly designated hospital in Richmond, all team members are trained to educate, guide, and support each new parent with personalized breastfeeding practices. Lactation consultants provide one on one support during and after birth and postpartum support groups are free and available to all in the Richmond community. Across the spectrum of care, our teams collaborate with community partners and advocate to reduce health inequities.

The number of babies born under our care has been increasing annually for the past decade, further demonstrating positive patient experiences and the superior reputation of the health system’s maternity care.

VCU Medical Center is also the only hospital in the Richmond region to receive the highest designation on Newsweek’s list of “America's Best Maternity Hospitals 2024.”  Additionally, VCU Medical Center was nationally recognized in more adult specialties than any other Virginia hospital in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Hospital rankings.

The OB-GYN team sees patients at three convenient locations: downtown at VCU Health’s Adult Outpatient Pavilion, Stony Point and GreenGate in Short Pump.