TMH Named Level II Maternal Care Facility

The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program, offered in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), has named Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) a Level II maternal care verified facility. 

As a Level II facility, TMH has demonstrated the ability to detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated maternal-fetal or neonatal problems that occur during the antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum periods of pregnancy. Plus, moderate-to high-risk antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum conditions.

“We are proud to receive this verification from the Joint Commission,” Kim Outlaw, Service Line Administrator for Women’s & Children’s Services at TMH, said. “It is truly a testament to how hard our Women’s Pavilion staff works each day to provide excellent care and to their dedication to providing positive outcomes for the families we serve. This verification further demonstrates that TMH is dedicated to the highest levels of care for patients and families in the Big Bend.”

TMH is home to the region’s only High-Risk Labor & Delivery Unit and Level III NICU – providing critical care to moms and babies in Tallahassee and the surrounding region.  TMH is also the only accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital in the region and has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a hospital that “offers an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.”

TMH underwent a comprehensive on-site review on Monday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 25 to verify the level of care provided. During the on-site verification visit, TMH’s capabilities related to maternity care were evaluated. Additionally, compliance with TMH’s policies were reviewed.

The MLC Verification program provides an objective assessment of a facility’s capabilities and verifies that a hospital has the expertise, equipment and resources in place for a patient’s specific needs and risk level. When complications arise, verification also confirms hospitals have agreements in place so the mother can be transferred to a higher-level facility with the appropriate level of care.

“The Joint Commission commends TMH for being named a Level II maternal care verified facility and for its efforts to standardize maternal care and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality,” said Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, Interim Executive Vice President, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “The Maternal Levels of Care Verification program will help TMH strengthen regionalized care for mothers and babies in its community.”

The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including TMH.

The MLC Verification program was developed using ACOG’s Levels of Maternal Care Obstetric Care Consensus (OCC) clinical guidance, which includes comprehensive uniform definitions, a standardized description of maternity facility capabilities and personnel and a framework for integrated systems that address maternal health needs. To learn more, visit The Joint Commission website.

For more information about Labor & Deliver services at TMH, visit TMH.ORG/MaternityCare.