NJ Reveals Report Card on Hospital Maternity Care

Resource ProvidesExpecting Mothers with Enhanced Access to Hospital Metrics:

First Lady Tammy Murphy and Acting Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston have unveiled the New Jersey Report Card of Hospital Maternity Care, an online, public tool that provides information on the maternal health care provided by New Jersey's many hospitals. This redesigned report card, the first of its kind in the nation, aims to equip expecting mothers in New Jersey with crucial statistics on hospital maternity care, drawing data from 2018 to 2022.

The report card serves as a cornerstone of the Nurture NJ initiative, pioneered by the Murphy administration. It provides detailed metrics on maternal and infant health care, including hospital-specific data on complication rates and severe maternal morbidity, to aid families in making informed decisions regarding their maternity care provider.

The Murphy Administration's introduction of a redesigned report card comes after the 2016 report on maternal health care confirmed the severe disparities in maternal health among people of color. The data reveal persistent gaps in outcomes, particularly in obstetric hemorrhage and severe maternal morbidity rates, underscoring the need for continued research and targeted interventions to address these disparities.

This new report provides clear data on Statewide Birthing People Demographics, with additional data on Baby-Friendly hospital recognitions, lactation consultant availability, and nurse-to-patient ratios, among others, the report card promotes a higher standard of care and supports New Jersey’s goal to become the safest and most equitable state for childbirth.

With over 60 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed into law, including the establishment of the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the New Jersey Maternal Data Center, New Jersey continues to lead by example in the pursuit of safer, more equitable maternity care.

For more information on the New Jersey Report Card of Hospital Maternity Care and the Nurture NJ initiative, visit the official New Jersey Department of Health and Nurture NJ websites.