As ‘maternity deserts’ become increasingly common in rural America, DHMC and Cheshire are providing critically important care for women, babies and families, and they’re doing so with demonstrated excellence.
Joanne M. Conroy, MDTwo Dartmouth Health member hospitals were recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its annual ranking of best maternity care hospitals for uncomplicated pregnancies. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) was ranked as high-performing in maternity care at the national level, and Cheshire Medical Center was recognized for achievement in maternity care access.
In ranking hospital maternity care, U.S. News evaluates how well hospitals perform in childbirth using rates of cesarean births, newborn severe complications, routine vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) deliveries, and episiotomies, as well as best practices to support breastfeeding, whether a hospital meets federal criteria for “birthing-friendly” practices, and whether a hospital tracked and reported disparities in outcomes. DHMC was one of 496 hospitals nationwide designated as high performing in 2026. Cheshire was recognized as it serves an area that depends on it for essential maternity care services.
“As ‘maternity deserts’ become increasingly common in rural America, DHMC and Cheshire are providing critically important care for women, babies and families, and they’re doing so with demonstrated excellence,” said Joanne M. Conroy, MD, CEO and president of Dartmouth Health. “One of our core values as a health system is that the quality of medical care a person receives shouldn’t be dependent on their zip code. I’m so proud of our maternity care teams at DHMC and Cheshire for upholding this value, and congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition.”
“In 2024, Cheshire’s labor and delivery team was honored to be part of the birth experience for over 400 families,” said Brandi N. Ring, MD, MBA, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Cheshire. “This recognition reflects the dedication of an exceptional team dedicated to the needs of our community. Having Cheshire Medical Center in the heart of Keene and the Monadnock region allows us to make the labor and delivery experience more personal. From our volunteer doulas to our incredible nurses, aides, midwives and physicians—we are honored to be here for so many Keene and Monadnock families.”
“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, PhD, 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.”
Learn more about U.S. News & World Report’s maternity care rankings on their website.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) is a Dartmouth Health member providing the communities in the Greater Monadnock Region a continuum of care spanning primary care and specialty medicine, to surgical services and acute inpatient care. For more than 130 years, Cheshire has been a key contributor to the health and vitality of the Monadnock Region. As a not-for-profit community medical center, Cheshire is deeply committed to delivering excellent care in a safe and welcoming environment. Cheshire is dedicated to being a great neighbor and serves as an integral community resource. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit the Cheshire Medical Center website.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital and multiple locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory and specialty services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.