St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka Makes Cal Hospital Compare’s 2020 Honor Roll for Maternity Care

Eureka, Calif. (June 30, 2021) –Cal Hospital Compare, in partnership with the California Health & Human Services Agency, recently placed Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka (SJE) on its maternity care honor roll and opioid honor roll. The hospital was one of only 32 hospitals in California to receive both recognitions.

“We are honored to accept these recognitions at St. Joseph Hospital,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk M.D., chief executive. “Having received these recognitions for two years in a row, it stands as a testament to our exceptional obstetrics and gynecological team who support moms and babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.”

To receive a 2020 maternity honor roll award, a California hospital must have a cesarean section rate of 23.9 percent or lower for low-risk, first birth deliveries and participates in California Maternal Quality Care Collaboratives' Maternal Data Center. In 2019, SJE had a C-section rate of 23.8 percent, exceeding that target.

In 2015, the California Health and Human Services Agency began recognizing hospitals for meeting the 23.9% statewide target for C-sections.1 The overuse of cesarean sections (C-sections) can result in higher rates of complications like hemorrhage, transfusions, infection, and blood clots. For babies, it can mean higher rates of infection, respiratory complications, neonatal intensive care unit stays, and lower breastfeeding rates.2

To receive a 2020 opioid honor roll award, a hospital must promote safe and effective opioid use, identify, and treat patients with opioid use disorder, prevent overdose, and apply opioid management best practices, such as a program to help patients become opioid free.