Saint Joseph Health System Recognized for Excellence in Infant and Maternal Health
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tom VanNevel
Public Relations Manager
574-335-4566, office
574-404-1048, cell
Mishawaka, Ind. (January 23, 2024) — Saint Joseph Mishawaka Medical Center was recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the fourth annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program.
INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant, was developed to improve the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.
“The daily work of our delivering hospitals makes a monumental impact on the lives of so many Hoosier moms and infants in every corner of our state,” said Governor Holcomb. “These caregivers are much needed and appreciated, and we will continue to partner with them to support our shared goal of a healthy Hoosier tomorrow.”
SJHS earned a Hospital of Distinction recognition based on implementing best practices in seven key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage, maternal hypertension, and social determinants of health.
“Saint Joseph Health System is honored to be recognized by the IHA for our efforts to improve the overall health of infants born in our area,” said Kathryn Park, MD, SJHS Chief Medical Officer. “This recognition is a reflection of our commitment to increasing awareness of infant mortality and educating new mothers to provide the safest possible environment they can for their newborn.”
“Our birthing hospitals work tremendously hard to make sure all babies born in Indiana have the best start at life, while caring for the mothers who delivered them,” said Dr. Weaver. “Reducing infant and maternal mortality requires a continued multi-pronged approach over the course of many years to see impactful change. It is heartening to see the progress we’ve made but we must continue to adopt best practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.”
About Saint Joseph Health System
Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS) is a not-for-profit healthcare system located in North Central Indiana that offers acute-based hospital care and post-acute services including: community wellness, home care, physician clinics, outpatient services, independent and assisted senior living, memory care and affordable senior apartments. SJHS includes: Mishawaka Medical Center; Plymouth Medical Center; Outpatient services of the Elm Road Medical Campus; Health Insurance Services; Saint Joseph Medical Group; VNA Home Care; the Senior Living Communities at St. Paul's, Holy Cross and Trinity Tower; and Saint Joseph PACE. SJHS serves more than 200,000 members of the Michiana community annually. SJHS is a Regional Health Ministry of Trinity Health in Livonia, Michigan.
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2023, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.5 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.
For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).