Charleston, S.C. (Dec. 17, 2025) – Three MUSC Health medical centers throughout the state of South Carolina achieved a high-performing rating in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center achieved the rating for a second straight year.
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center achieved high-performing status for the first time and was also designated as a Maternity Care Access Hospital for providing meaningful access to obstetric services, particularly in a community where maternity care may be limited.
High performing is the highest rating awarded by U.S. News & World Report for maternity hospitals. This is the third year the organization has rated maternity hospitals, initiated to assist expected mothers and families in choosing a hospital that best cares for patients during labor and delivery following an uncomplicated pregnancy.
“We are grateful for this recognition of our commitment to exceptional maternal care. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to provide the highest quality care while advancing our mission to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the tri-county area and across our state,” said Donna Johnson, M.D., chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Being selected among the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care indicates that these three MUSC Health locations provide high-quality labor and delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies. The high-performing status rates how well a hospital performs in childbirth, utilizing criteria such as:
- Cesarean section (C-section) rates.
- Newborn complication rates.
- Breast milk feeding rates.
- Early elective delivery rates.
- Routine vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) rates.
- Episiotomy rates.
- Meeting new federal criteria for “birthing-friendly” practices.
- Tracking and reporting outcomes for patients of different races and ethnicities.
“We are honored that MUSC Health has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high performing hospital for maternity care,” said Patrick Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University. “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in maternal health.”
He praised the team members whose dedication made the achievement possible. “Our teams work tirelessly to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care and ensure that families across South Carolina have access to the highest-quality maternity services. I am deeply proud of their dedication and the difference they make every day,” he said.
Mirroring the U.S. News’ Best Hospitals rankings, the best maternity care ratings draw from three categories: outcomes, process and structure. For more information on how U.S. News & World Report evaluates Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, please visit the website’s FAQ section.
###
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates nearly 3,500 students in six colleges and trains approximately 1,050 residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal, National Institutes of Health and other research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2025, for the 11th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $8.9 billion. The nearly 35,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
Recent News Releases stories
