FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Broward Health Medical Center, the flagship hospital of the Broward Health system in Fort Lauderdale, has been named a 2026 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, the top designation available in the publication’s annual maternity care study.
South Florida families who live in Palm Beach County must decide between hospitals for their pregnancy care based on their doctor connections and insurance coverage and hospital location and the specific delivery day services they need. The U.S. News uses standardized evaluation methods to collect hospital practice data and outcome information for its rating system through its maternity care designation.
“Achieving the highest level of recognition in U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is a testament to the strength of our clinical outcomes and our commitment to best practices in maternal and newborn health,” Manny Linares, CEO of Broward Health Medical Center, said in a statement. The hospital maternity team received his appreciation for delivering trustworthy medical care to parents during their most valuable life experience.
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, looking at hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data for analysis. The 2026 edition is the fifth annual study, and U.S. News said about 900 hospitals nationwide submitted maternity data for evaluation this cycle. The ratings system exists to assist expectant parents together with their prenatal care providers when selecting maternity services which fulfill their individual requirements.
The High Performing rating of Broward Health Medical Center resulted from maternity care performance indicators which U.S. News evaluated through C-section rates for pregnancies without complications and newborn complication rates and breast milk feeding percentages and birthing-friendly practice implementation.
Jennifer Winston Ph.D. works as a health data scientist at U.S. News where she explains that this designation serves as a safety and consistency indicator. “Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders,” Winston said. The hospital received this award because it achieved superior patient safety results which outperformed all other healthcare organizations. The hospital provides expectant parents with peace of mind because their maternity care will follow evidence-based practices at the highest level of excellence.
The award is part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study, separate from the publication’s broader hospital rankings. In the maternity care program, the High Performing level is the highest award a hospital can earn.
Broward Health operates as a public healthcare system which was established in 1938 and maintains its main operations in Fort Lauderdale. The organization operates as one of the 10 largest public healthcare systems which exists throughout the United States. The system operates five hospitals, two trauma centers and more than 30 locations which serve Broward County. Broward Health operates with more than 11,000 staff members and doctors while maintaining a $1.8 billion operating budget which supports $520 million worth of free medical services each year.
Broward Health said more information about its maternity services is available at its maternity webpage.
The essential information for residents who need to choose their maternity care facility shows Broward Health Medical Center achieves the highest maternity care rating according to U.S. News in their current assessment. The designation functions as an additional resource which parents can use to evaluate hospitals and plan their birth delivery with their medical providers but it does not supersede their professional advice.
Source: Broward Health / U.S. News & World Report (BrowardHealth.org)
