Missouri Baptist Medical Center Awarded Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care from The Joint Commission

Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s longstanding reputation for providing exceptional care to mothers and babies has been recognized on a national scale. 

MoBap earned the Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC), recognizing that the hospital met and exceeded standards set by The Joint Commission and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for patient-centered, multidisciplinary care throughout the pregnancy journey. 

“At Missouri Baptist Medical Center, we always strive to provide the best care possible for every patient,” says Ann Abad, Missouri Baptist Medical Center president. “This certification makes a bold statement about the rigorous standards we follow while caring for mothers and their babies. At a very important time in their lives, we are here for them.”  

Jennifer Hawn, DNP, WHNP-BC, says the quality of care that secured the certification also helps illustrate why an increasing number of expecting families are trusting MoBap with their care. 

“With more moms and newborns depending on us, this is an important step for us to stay on the cusp of what’s best for our patients,” Jennifer says. “Achieving this certification has been years in the making. The process involves not only submitting examples of our policies and protocols but also being evaluated by a Joint Commission reviewer as they interact with our patients and staff.

In order to achieve the ACPC, a hospital is evaluated for more than 200 elements of performance and determined to provide: 

• Integrated, coordinated, and patient-centered prenatal through postpartum care, including both complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies
• Early identification of high-risk pregnancies and births
• Management of mothers and newborn risks
• Direct care or stabilization and safe transfer of mothers and newborns with identified or unanticipated risks or complications
• Education and information about perinatal services to help mothers make informed decisions about care, treatment, or services 

“Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, executive vice president of accreditation and certification operations and The Joint Commission chief nursing officer. “We commend Missouri Baptist Medical Center for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality, and more compassionate care for individuals served.” 

Personalized, dedicated care for every mother and baby

MoBap’s Childbirth Center provides advanced medicine in a personalized and peaceful environment that includes private mother-baby rooms. 

• U.S. News & World Report, in its annual ranking of Best Hospitals, consistently selects MoBap among the best hospitals in St. Louis and Missouri, and designated MoBap as a High-Performing hospital for maternity care in 2024 and 2025.
• Our newborn intensive care unit (NICU) is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses to care for premature babies as young as 28 weeks gestation. Our NICU and newborn nurseries are staffed by BJC Medical Group and WashU Medicine pediatricians.
• Our staff includes St. Louis Children’s Hospital and WashU Medicine neonatologists and pediatricians, who are available around the clock and attend all high-risk or complicated deliveries, providing expert care.
• Our Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 by WashU Medicine pediatricians and specialty trained pediatric nurses from St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where “ouchless” emergency care employs a variety of techniques to ensure young patients as little discomfort as possible.  
• A Certified Nurse Midwife hospitalist is integrated into the care team and available 24/7.  
• MoBap has more than 127 OB-GYNs on staff, including ones specialized in Maternal Fetal Medicine.
• MoBap and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are the only two hospitals in the St. Louis region to be recognized as Magnet with Distinction®, the highest credential a hospital can receive for nursing excellence. MoBap and St. Louis Children’s are both a part of BJC HealthCare.
• MoBap proudly provides milk bank services for breastfeeding moms, midwifery services, on-site newborn photography sessions, and more. 

Learn more about Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Childbirth Center.