Norwegian American Hospital has been awarded a 2015 Gage Award honorable mention for Transformation of Perinatal Quality in an Essential Hospital. America’s Essential Hospitals, a national organization representing hospitals committed to high-quality care for all people, including the vulnerable, announced this honor at its annual conference, June 24 to 26, in San Diego.

Transformation of Perinatal Quality in an Essential Hospital was an NAH initiative that dramatically improved perinatal quality, reducing fetal deaths from 11 to 6 and neonatal deaths from 4 to 3 over the course of the intervention. The hysterectomy rate in hemorrhage patients fell, rates of vaginal births after a cesarean section improved, and early elective deliveries before 39 weeks declined, among other achievements. The NAPH Gage Awards Program – named after NAPH founder and safety net advocate Larry S. Gage – honors and shares the outstanding work of NAPH members. Winners are recognized for innovations that improve community health and save money and that can be replicated in organizations across the country.