Maternal Health Matters: Our Commitment to Compassionate Care for Mothers and Babies in Florida

Maternal health is the foundation of healthy families and strong communities. From prenatal care through childbirth and the postpartum period, mothers need access to timely, high-quality and compassionate care to support both their well-being and that of their babies. Despite the evidence-backed importance of maternal care, available data paints a concerning picture, especially for marginalized populations, and highlights an urgent need to improve outcomes for mothers and babies across the United States.

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, yet persistent disparities across race, income and geography continue to put women at greater risk. At Ascension, we are committed to supporting mothers at every stage, through data-driven care, community partnerships and innovative programs that support healthier outcomes and heightened awareness about maternal health.

Maternal care at Ascension

Nationwide, 1 in 60 babies in the U.S. is born at an Ascension care site, with 42% of births supported by Medicaid.

In Florida, our maternity services provide critical access to high-quality care. Sacred Heart Pensacola delivers 75% of all babies born in Pensacola and operates the region's only Level III NICU and Regional Perinatal Center, providing the highest level of care for both moms and babies. Sacred Heart Emerald Coast serves as the only birthplace in Walton County and the only NICU close to home for families in Walton and Okaloosa Counties. In Northwest Florida, St. Vincent's Clay County provides vital maternity resources close to home for mothers and babies, while St. Vincent's Southside provides award-winning maternity care with a Level II NICU. Even amid a national maternal health crisis, Ascension's maternal morbidity rates are over 20% lower for all patients, and 32% lower for Black/African American patients compared to the national average.

Aligning clinical priorities to reduce complications

Reducing severe obstetric complications is a clinical priority for Ascension from FY25 to FY27, guiding our maternal health initiatives across the system. This focus reflects Ascension's commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care while improving outcomes for mothers and families. Through standardized care protocols, early identification and treatment of conditions such as anemia and hypertension, expanded provider training and strong community partnerships, Ascension is working to lower complication rates - particularly for women in the most vulnerable communities. This effort builds on more than a decade of sustained progress in advancing maternal safety across the health system.

Expanding access to high-quality maternal services

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

• Telehealth Maternity Care Program: The new Telehealth Maternity Care Program for Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension St. Vincent's, started in 2025, provides expecting mothers with personalized support throughout pregnancy and up to one year after birth at no cost. Through a partnership with the Florida Department of Health, referred families are assigned a dedicated patient navigator who connects them with prenatal and postpartum services, helping to remove barriers to care.
• New NICU at St. Vincent's Clay County: St. Vincent's Clay County will break ground on a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This will allow us to help keep families close to home and at their preferred hospital for maternity and infant care.
• OB Hospitalist 24/7 emergency maternity care: Sacred Heart Emerald Coast expanded services to add a partnership with OB Hospitalist Group to provide 24/7 emergency maternity care to complement the services of the patient's OB-GYN doctors.

Advancing clinical outcomes and driving impact for mothers and babies in Florida

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

• Postpartum wristbands: Sacred Heart's facilities in Pensacola and Miramar Beach are participating in the state's first postpartum wristband initiative that gives a silver rubber wristband to mothers to voluntarily wear for up to a year after their baby is born. This initiative prioritizes them as patients and spotlights their medical history when they seek care through EMS, ERs or other medical sites.
• Maternal Health Social System Initiative: The Telehealth Maternity Care Program is an expansion of Sacred Heart Pensacola's Ascension's Maternal Health Social System Initiative with dedicated navigators to help pregnant women at greatest risk to help them overcome barriers and improve health outcomes. Since 2020, these efforts have reached close to 1,000 high-risk mothers with 83.2% of babies born at term.
• Maternal Levels of Care: Sacred Heart Pensacola, Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, St. Vincent's Southside and St. Vincent's Clay County participated in a state initiative for Maternal Levels of Care completing the Joint Commission process. Sacred Heart Pensacola received Level IV verification for Maternal Levels of Care, recognizing their ability to provide comprehensive care for mothers and infants across all needs and risk levels. Sacred Heart Emerald Coast and St. Vincent's Southside are designated as Level II facilities, meaning they meet national guidelines to care for both healthy and high-risk pregnancies. St. Vincent's Clay County is a Level I providing obstetrical care for healthy pregnancies according to national guidelines.
• Brighter Beginnings: Faith Community Nursing connects St. Vincent's with community resources and local church congregations to promote health and wellness by identifying services they need for their members. The community outreach program hosts free monthly community education at Edward Waters University, a historically Black university, for pregnant or new moms. The program also provides food boxes and infant supplies for the most at risk moms.

Ascension Florida remains committed across our clinical and community impact initiatives to advancing whole-person maternal care - addressing healthcare needs, social barriers and community support systems to help support safer pregnancies and healthier futures for mothers and babies.