U.S. News & World Report has named 26 Intermountain Health hospitals to its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care for mom and baby outcomes, education, and patient satisfaction.

The 26 Intermountain hospitals earned a high performing designation in maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies in areas such as cesarean sections in lower-risk pregnancies, vaginal births after cesarean-section (VBAC) rates, newborn severe complications rates, birthing friendly and education practices, and outcome disparities based on race/ethnicity, among other measures.

Intermountain Health has more hospitals named by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 than any other health system in the country.

Intermountain hospitals cited by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 include:

• Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Cassia Regional Hospital (Burley, Idaho)*
• Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Delta Community Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Garfield Memorial Hospital (Panguitch, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Heber Valley Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital (Miles City, Mont.)
• Intermountain Health Intermountain Medical Center (Murray, Utah)
• Intermountain Health Layton Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City)
• Intermountain Health Logan Regional Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge, Colo.
• Intermountain Health McKay-Dee Hospital (Ogden, Utah)
• Intermountain Health Orem Community Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Park City Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital (Brighton, Colo.)
• Intermountain Health Riverton Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver)
• Intermountain Health Sanpete Valley Hospital (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital (Richfield, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health St. James Hospital (Butte, Mont.)*
• Intermountain Health St. Mary's Hospital (Grand Junction, Colo.)
• Intermountain Health St. Vincent Hospital (Billings, Mont.)
• Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital (Provo, Utah

"This recognition is meaningful because it reflects what families experience at the bedside: safe, consistent, high quality, compassionate care," said Sean Esplin, MD, a maternal fetal medicine physician and senior medical director of women’s health at Intermountain Health.

"Our clinical program has worked across hospitals to align on proven evidence-based care practices to lower cesarean-section rates in low‑risk pregnancies, thoughtfully support VBAC deliveries, reduce newborn complications, elevate patient education, and advance equity so every mother and baby can expect excellent outcomes," he added.

U.S. News also recognizes Maternity Care Access Hospitals, which provide maternity services to communities that might otherwise have inadequate access to maternity care, sometimes referred to as "maternity care deserts." The report identified 147 critical access hospitals in total, with nine Intermountain hospitals making the list (noted "*" above).

Intermountain  Health is determined to provide the highest quality care to pregnant and postpartum patients and their babies, by improving outcomes and access to care within its six-state region. For example, Intermountain recently announced an innovative care program for pregnant and postpartum women with hypertension, and published a study identifying hypertension risks during pregnancy.

Receiving this designation is evidence of the unwavering dedication of our nurses, physicians, midwives, and teams who show up for mothers and babies every day to deliver high‑quality care—and a reminder to keep improving together, for every family we serve,” added Dr. Esplin.

For more information regarding Intermountain Health pregnancy and maternity services, please visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/womens-health/pregnancy.

Click here for more information about the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

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A stroke can affect anyone at any age; however, they are less common in younger individuals. 

That is why when Krista Jenkins woke up one morning last January, her condition surprised her and her family.

“My dog was whining, and I called to her to be quiet, but it didn’t come out quite right,” said Jenkins, a 33-year-old mother of two from Fairview, Utah. “It was just like a jumble of slurred words.”

Her boyfriend, Tyrell Hammon, was concerned. 

Although Jenkins told him she was alright, he had recently had stroke awareness training through work at Christensen Ready Mix. 

“He was like, no, I think we need to go to the doctor,” she said.

Although Jenkins didn’t have many of the other common symptoms of stroke such as balance problems, eye or vision concerns, face dropping, or arm weakness, the speech issues in a woman so young caused concern for caregivers at Intermountain Sanpete Valley Hospital.

“Krista mentioned that her tongue felt swollen, so I checked but didn’t see that,” said Brett Johnson, DO, a family medicine physician and stroke and trauma medical director at Intermountain Sanpete Valley Hospital. “I asked her if her tongue felt numb and I asked her boyfriend if she was having a hard time speaking.  He replied, ‘Yes,’ and went on to say that she couldn’t get her words out that morning.”

Dr. Johnson, who was manning the ER, said they started looking at the possibility of stroke, but a CT scan of Jenkins’ brain came back negative.

After consulting with Intermountain Health’s Telestroke neurologists, Dr. Johnson told Jenkins he wanted to do an MRI which revealed the stroke.

“They got me right back and did two MRIs and six CT scans and found that I had had two mini strokes,” said Jenkins. 

She was immediately transported to Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.

Jenkins described having two clots, one in the right cerebral hemisphere and one in the left middle frontal gyrus. 

“With the size of the clots, it’s a wonder I didn’t have more symptoms.”

Now in recovery, Jenkins is encouraging others to be aware of symptoms and to act fast if there are concerns. “Time is so important,” she said.

Quick medical treatment during a stroke is one of the most important factors in determining a good outcome. If a stroke does occur, there are treatments available to prevent long-term brain injury. These treatments are focused on restoring blood flow to the brain to prevent brain tissue from dying due to lack of blood flow.

The Intermountain Health neurosciences team is focused on saving brain and improving outcomes for stroke patients because every second a person has a stroke, 32,000 neurons die.

Treatments include a blood clot dissolving medication called tenectaplase (tPA) and a procedure that uses a catheter to pull blood clots out of large arteries in the brain. Both treatments can significantly reduce potential disability but are very time sensitive.

Strokes, which occur when a part of the brain is damaged due to a problem with blood flow, are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. One in 20 adult deaths are due to strokes.

Intermountain Health experts say that, when it comes to strokes, individuals should “B.E. F.A.S.T” and call 911 when you see these signs:

• Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• Eyes: Sudden change in vision
• Face: Sudden weakness of the face
• Arm: Sudden weakness of an arm or leg
• Speech: Sudden difficulty speaking
• Time: Time the symptoms started.

An estimated 610,000 people in the United States suffer a new stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 

While some factors that increase the risk of stroke — such as age, gender and ethnicity, can’t be controlled — managing unhealthy habits, including smoking, excessive drinking, poor eating habits, and inactivity, can reduce your risk of stroke.

Jenkins expresses gratitude that her boyfriend knew the symptoms, and for the care she received at both hospitals.

“Dr. Johnson was really thorough,” said Jenkins. “I’m so glad he caught this. He was just so willing to look into it and go as far as he needed to get it figured out. The doctors at Utah Valley also said he was really thorough.”

If you see someone exhibiting signs of stroke, remember to B.E. F.A.S.T. and call 9-1-1.

Intermountain Health se enorgullece de ofrecer eventos gratuitos Ladies Night Out en siete hospitales de Utah a finales de septiembre y durante el mes de octubre, no solo para celebrar la salud de las mujeres, sino también para brindarles información sobre sus necesidades de atención médica a lo largo de las diferentes décadas de sus vidas. 

Las mujeres suelen ser excelentes a la hora de cuidar a sus seres queridos, familiares y amigos, pero esto puede hacer que les resulte difícil priorizar su propia salud y bienestar. Las investigaciones muestran que las mujeres toman el 80 % de las decisiones relacionadas con la atención médica para sus familias. Por lo tanto, cuanto más informadas estén, más saludables estarán ellas y sus seres queridos. 

Los eventos Ladies Night Out se llevarán a cabo en siete hospitales de Intermountain a lo largo de Wasatch Front, Wasatch Back y en el condado de Sanpete. Pueden asistir mujeres de todas las edades. 

El programa de los eventos Ladies Night Out de Intermountain es el siguiente: 

• Intermountain LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City: martes 24 de septiembre, de 6:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m. 
• Intermountain Riverton Hospital: jueves 26 de septiembre, de 6:30 p. m. a 8:30 p. m. 
• Intermountain Heber Valley Hospital: miércoles 2 de octubre, de 6:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m. 
• Intermountain Medical Center, Murray: martes 8 de octubre, de 6:30 p. m. a 8:30 p. m. 
• Intermountain Alta View Hospital, Sandy: miércoles 9 de octubre, de 6:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m. 
• Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, Ogden: jueves 10 de octubre, de 5:30 p. m. a 7:30 p. m. 
• Intermountain Sanpete Valley Hospital, Mt. Pleasant: martes 15 de octubre, de 5:00 p. m. a 7:00 p. m. 

“Una de las mejores ventajas de nuestros eventos Ladies Night Out es la oportunidad de conocer a los proveedores de salud de las mujeres en su hospital local, escucharlos y hablar con ellos”, dijo Heather Wall, presidenta del Intermountain LDS Hospital en Salt Lake City. “Estos eventos ayudan a las mujeres a comprender y tomar conciencia sobre los exámenes de salud recomendados, así como conocer los numerosos servicios de atención médica disponibles para las mujeres en nuestros hospitales, en nuestras clínicas y a través de nuestros socios de salud en la comunidad”. 

Las mujeres podrán conocer e interactuar con proveedores de salud especializados en diversas áreas de salud femenina, por ejemplo: atención de las mujeres y los recién nacidos, salud conductual, mamografía, nutrición y pediatría, así como con cuidadores especializados en medicina deportiva, fisioterapia, urología y reconstrucción mamaria. 

“Las decisiones de atención médica que toman las mujeres son cruciales, no solo para su propio bienestar, sino también para la salud de sus familias y comunidades. Si les brindamos el conocimiento, los recursos y el apoyo necesarios para tomar estas decisiones, estaremos contribuyendo a mejorar los resultados de salud pública en nuestras comunidades”, afirmó Wall. 

Los eventos Ladies Night Out de Intermountain ofrecen un ambiente divertido con exhibiciones interactivas, información sobre exámenes de salud y actividades para que las mujeres puedan escuchar a las personas expertas en atención médica o tener la oportunidad de crear algo para llevarse a sus casas. Habrá alimentos saludables para degustar preparados por los chefs del hospital, obsequios, sorteos de premios y mucho más. 

El evento Ladies Night Out del LDS Hospital contará con un panel de cuatro proveedores especializados en la salud de las mujeres. En el evento, las mujeres también podrán recibir una vacuna contra la gripe o programar una mamografía. Además, podrán crear y llevarse a sus casas un arreglo de plantas suculentas dentro de una calabaza pequeña. 

Las mujeres saldrán de estos eventos con un conocimiento más profundo sobre los exámenes de salud y los servicios necesarios en cada etapa de sus vidas, desde la adolescencia hasta el parto y el período de posparto. Esto incluirá información sobre la prevención del cáncer de mama a través de mamografías regulares, los desafíos de la menopausia y mucho más. 

Para obtener más información sobre los eventos, incluidas las fechas y los horarios, visite la página de Ladies Night Out de Intermountain en intermountainhealth.org, o siga la página de Intermountain Health o de su hospital local de Intermountain en Facebook o Instagram. 

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Intermountain Health is proud to offer free Ladies Night Out events at seven hospital locations across Utah in late September through October, to not only help celebrate women’s health, but also to teach women more about their healthcare needs through the various decades of their lives. 

Women are often very good at taking care of their loved ones, families and friends, but that can make it difficult for women to prioritize their own health and well-being. Research shows women make 80 percent of the healthcare decisions for their families. So, the more informed they are, the healthier they and their loved ones can be. 

The Ladies Night Out events will take place at seven Intermountain hospitals along the Wasatch Front, in the Wasatch Back, and in Sanpete County. Women of any age can attend. 

The Intermountain Ladies Night Out schedule is as follows: 

• Intermountain LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6-8 pm. 
• Intermountain Riverton Hospital, Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8:30 pm. 
• Intermountain Heber Valley Hospital, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6-8 pm. 
• Intermountain Medical Center, Murray: Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6:30-8:30 pm. 
• Intermountain Alta View Hospital, Sandy: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-8 pm. 
• Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, Ogden: Thursday, Oct. 10, 5:30-7:30 pm. 
• Intermountain Sanpete Valley Hospital, Mt. Pleasant: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 5-7 pm. 

“One of the best things about our Ladies Night Out events is the chance to get to know the women’s health providers at your local hospital, to hear from them and talk to them,” said Heather Wall, president of Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. “These events give women an awareness and understanding of recommended health screenings and the many healthcare services available for women in our hospitals and clinics and from our community health partners.” 

Women will be able to meet and interact with women’s health providers from various medical specialties, such as: women and newborn care, behavioral health, mammography, nutrition, and pediatrics, as well as caregivers who specialize in women’s sports medicine, physical therapy, urology, and breast reconstruction. 

“The healthcare decisions women make are vitally important, not just for their own well-being, but also for the health of their families and communities. As we empower women with knowledge, resources, and support to make these decisions, it will help improve the public health outcomes for our communities,” said Wall. 

Intermountain Ladies Night Out events offer a fun atmosphere with interactive displays, health screening information and activities for women to hear healthcare experts, or opportunities to create something to take home. There will be healthy food options to sample from hospital chefs, free giveaways, prize drawings and more. 

The LDS Hospital Ladies Night Out event will feature a panel of four women’s health-related providers. Women can also get a flu shot at the event or schedule a mammogram. Women can also create and take home a succulent plant arrangement inside a mini pumpkin. 

Women will leave each event with an increased knowledge of health screenings or services they might need for whatever stage of life they’re in from adolescence to childbirth, to the postpartum period to helping to prevent breast cancer with regular mammograms, and through the ups and downs of menopause and beyond. 

For more information about the events, including dates and times, visit the Intermountain Health Ladies Night Out webpage on intermountainhealth.org or follow Intermountain Health or your local Intermountain hospital on Facebook or Instagram. 

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