U.S. News & World Report, the global authority on hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Renown Health as both a 2026 High-Performing hospital for Maternity Care and a Maternity Care Access Hospital. These dual designations underscore Renown Health’s leadership in advancing exceptional and equitable maternal health services.
Ratings are intended to help expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, make informed decisions about where to receive safe and effective maternity care. In 2026, 495 top hospitals for Maternity care have been recognized as High Performing across the U.S. Renown Regional Medical Center is the only hospital earning this designation in the northern Nevada region. Four hospitals in Las Vegas also earned honors.
The 2026 hospital ratings for Maternity and Perinatal Care review hospitals providing high-quality labor & delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies. U.S. News evaluates how well hospitals perform in childbirth using C-section rates, newborn severe complication rates, routine vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) rates, episiotomy rates, best practices to support breast milk feeding, whether a hospital meets federal criteria for "birthing-friendly" practices, and whether a hospital tracked and reported disparities in outcomes. In terms of quality, these hospitals also demonstrated performance above the lowest normalized values for severe unexpected newborn complications, C-sections or episiotomy rates. Read more about the methodology here.
“Providing the highest level of maternity and infant care is essential to the health and strength of our region,” stated Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Renown Health. “High-quality maternity care leads to safer pregnancies, fewer complications, and better long-term outcomes for both mother and child. Early, expert care reduces risks such as preterm birth, low birth weight babies and complications. Local access ensures timely intervention when seconds matter. Communities with strong maternal care programs see benefits in education, economic stability and public health. We are proud that all parents, regardless of their background or resources, can receive safe, compassionate, evidence-based care, close to home. We at Renown are very proud of this recognition, and to be able to support families during one of life’s most precious moments.”
“Receiving the Best Hospital for Maternity Care designation is an incredible honor for our entire team and reflects our commitment to delivering outstanding care for every mother and baby,” said James M. Alexander, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health, As northern Nevada’s academic teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, we are proud to train the next generation of obstetrics leaders while advancing the highest standards of care for our community.”
The High Performing designation is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study, now in its fifth year. This award recognizes hospitals that meet high standards for quality and safety through objective, evidence-based measures.
“We are honored to be recognized for maternity excellence and access by U.S. News & World Report,” says Chris Nicholas, MHA, FACHE, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center. “At Renown, putting People First means that every expectant parent receives exceptional care and support. We thank our team and our community for their trust, and we are proud to continue to deliver the highest quality care to families across northern Nevada.”
“Earning the High Performing distinction reflects the work of every nurse, physician, midwife and support professional who designs care around the needs of mothers and infants,” said Paige McCall, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services at Renown Health. “We follow the data closely, implement proven best practices and listen to patients. That is how we continue to improve birth experiences and deliver exceptional outcomes for families.”
Renown Regional Medical Center Designated as a 2026 Maternity Care Access Hospital
The Maternity Care Access Hospital designation recognizes hospitals that provide essential maternity services in communities at risk of becoming maternity care deserts. These hospitals ensure that limited geographic or financial resources do not prevent families from receiving maternity care. U.S. News evaluated approximately 900 hospitals nationwide for the 2026 ratings, and just 147 hospitals, or 16% of all evaluated hospitals, including Renown Regional Medical Center, have been designated as Maternity Care Access Hospitals.
“Northern Nevada and northern California are among the most geographically challenging regions in the West when it comes to receiving maternity care,” added McCall. Families often travel hours for prenatal visits and to deliver their baby. By preserving access to labor and delivery services in our community, we help prevent maternity care deserts, reduce maternal risk and keep mothers and infants healthy and closer to home.”
Renown Women’s Health provides comprehensive, compassionate maternity services designed to support parents through every stage of pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. Expert obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, nurses, doulas and neonatal specialists are dedicated to ensuring a safe, personalized experience for every family. If you are pregnant, or planning to be, visit renown.org to use the “Find A Doctor” tool to search for obstetricians and women’s health providers, or call the patient care team for help selecting a clinician who meets your needs at 775-982-5640. Renown Health accepts most insurances including Medicaid and Medicare. Prominence Health Plan is not accepted. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit renown.org.
As the community’s only not-for-profit health system, philanthropic support and partnership are vital to providing and expanding needed services for our region. Renown Health Foundation is a non-profit organization registered with the State of Nevada and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity. Donor contributions of any size make a significant impact on the community. Learn more at renown.org/donate.
About Renown Health
Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a workforce of more than 8,000 physicians, nurses and employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.
