Saint Francis Hospital Named to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care
HARTFORD, Conn. (December 9, 2025) – Saint Francis Hospital has been named a 2026 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice.
“We are so honored that U.S. News & World Report recognized Saint Francis Hospital for the outstanding care provided by our maternity team,” said Valerie Powell-Stafford, President, Saint Francis Hospital. “This award underscores the dedication our team has to providing the highest quality care with a patient-centered, compassionate approach to families in our community.”
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. For the 2026 edition, a record-breaking 901 hospitals submitted maternity data for evaluation. These public ratings assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care for uncomplicated births.
“Choosing where to welcome a new baby is one of the most personal health care decisions a family makes. Expectant parents can use U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care to compare key outcomes and support services at maternity hospitals in their area,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “Whether your priority is a low C-section rate, strong VBAC support or the availability of a dedicated lactation consultant, U.S. News’ digital hospital profiles offer patients free, transparent information as they choose a hospital for maternity care.”
The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates and exclusive breast milk feeding rates, among other measures. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics as well as maternity-related programs, services and support on the U.S. News website to help them decide where to give birth.
About Saint Francis Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital has been an anchor institution in Connecticut since 1897. Saint Francis is a member of Trinity Health Of New England and Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Saint Francis Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center, is a 617-bed hospital, a major teaching hospital, and the largest Catholic hospital in New England. Other Saint Francis entities include the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center, the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute of Connecticut, the Smilow Cancer Hospital Yale-New Haven at Saint Francis, Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group, and Community Health and Well Being, which includes the Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity, the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry, and the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SaintFrancisCT
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders, and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers, and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice, and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C