April 12, 2024, Summit, NJ – Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center has been recognized for its success in supporting Black maternal health by U.S. News & World Report for Black Maternal Health Week 2024.
“Overlook is proud to be the destination of choice for a growing number of patients as they welcome new members of their families. As the diversity of our families continues to grow, we are investing in maternity care at Overlook,” said Stephanie Schwartz, MHSA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Health System and President, Overlook Medical Center. “This recognition reflects the environment we have created to ensure that Black patients and families are supported with exemplary care during this special time in their lives.”
Overlook Medical Center is currently in the midst of modernizing its Frank & Mimi Walsh Maternity Center. The project, which will reconfigure the maternity department, tripling the number of private rooms, enhancing the flow of patient-centered care and establishing new resources for families, is part of a multi-phase plan to expand and upgrade Overlook Medical Center.
Overlook has seen an uptick in deliveries in recent years. As that volume increased, so too has the number of families of diverse backgrounds and underserved populations. Overlook is uniquely located near some of the most diverse and historically underserved communities in New Jersey. In 2021, more than half of Overlook’s maternity patients identified as a race/ethnicity other than white and many face disparities in health care.
The maternity project will build a safe, high-quality and equitable continuum of care for all pregnant and postpartum mothers, particularly Overlook’s growing population of high-risk patients. The project is supported by The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, which works to reduce disparities in the delivery of healthcare and improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in the greater Newark, NJ area and the Jewish community of Greater MetroWest NJ.
U.S. News’ analysis of all High-Performing Maternity Care Hospitals in the U.S. identified just 26 hospitals nationwide achieving excellent outcomes for cesarean section and unexpected newborn complications among Black patients.
U.S. News identified hospitals that were rated High Performing in U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, served at least 20 Black patients per year and had newborn complication rates of less than 2.62% and c-section rates of less than 23.9% (among hospitals providing a higher level of care) or 23.6% (among hospitals not providing a higher level of care) among Black patients.
“For Black Maternal Health Week 2024, we celebrate these hospitals' success in their important work supporting and advancing Black maternal health as part of U.S. News’ ongoing commitment to health equity and our support of women’s access to maternity care,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News.
A hospital that has earned a High Performing designation may be a good option for parents, in consultation with their medical provider, to consider.
Founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), Black Maternal Health Week is held every April as part of National Minority Health Month; this year is the seventh annual observation of Black Maternal Health Week. Join the conversation for Black Maternal Health Week 2024 from April 11-17, 2024 using #BMHW24 on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 20,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.
The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.
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.