ANCHORAGE, Alaska — For the second consecutive year, Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for providing Alaskans with high-quality maternity care.
PAMC is the only hospital in Alaska to receive the 2026 High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) designation for its labor and delivery services. The hospital was among the nearly 900 care centers evaluated — only half received recognition.
“We are honored to receive this distinction, which underscores our unwavering commitment to supporting families during one of life’s most significant milestones,” said Mar
garet M. Horvath, FACHE, executive director of Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services. “This recognition reflects the exceptional skill and dedication of our caregivers, who consistently strive to deliver the highest standard of care for mothers and newborns.”
To achieve a “Best Hospital for Maternity Care” rating, hospitals are evaluated on:
- The rate of serious complications in newborns
- How often they allow vaginal births after a previous C-section (VBAC)
- How often they perform episiotomies
- Whether they follow best practices for breastfeeding
- If they meet federal “birthing-friendly” standards
- If they track and report differences in outcomes among patients
PAMC was also recognized in the U.S. News 2025–2026 Best Hospitals rankings, earning Best Regional Hospital — the only hospital in Alaska to receive this honor. Additionally, the medical center was named high performing in two adult specialties and 10 procedures and conditions, more than twice as many as any other treatment center in the state.
Now in its fifth year, the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data for analysis. The program is designed to help expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, make informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their families’ needs.
“Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders. This recognition means they are consistently hitting crucial patient safety benchmarks compared to other hospitals,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “It's a clear signal to expectant parents about where the highest standards of care are being practiced – when parents see this designation, they can be assured they are choosing a hospital dedicated to exceptional, evidence-based maternity care.”
For more information, visit the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care news release and use #BestMaternityHospitals on Facebook and Instagram.
About Providence Alaska Medical Center
Providence Alaska Medical Center, a nationally recognized trauma center and Alaska’s only Magnet hospital, is part of Providence, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, affiliated services and educational facilities. For more information, visit providence.org/locations/ak/alaska-medical-center.
About U.S. News & World Report
About the Author
More Content by Providence News Team
