Woodbridge, Va./December 9, 2025) – Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC), along with five other Sentara hospitals, has been named among the nation’s best for high-quality labor and delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies by U.S. News & World Report, a leader in quality rankings.
“We are proud of earning this designation that recognizes Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s commitment to providing safe, comprehensive maternity care to expecting families,” said SNVMC President Jeff Joyner.
“Every team member of SNVMC Women’s Health Center has contributed to this well-deserved recognition, and it’s an important reminder of the excellent maternity care that’s available right in our own community,” noted Joyner.
The annual rankings are designed to help expecting parents make informed decisions about where to receive care.
To create the rankings, U.S. News evaluated data from a record 899 hospitals. Of those, only 495 received the high-performing designation.
“Sentara is proud to be recognized as a leader in maternity care by U.S. News. This recognition reflects our commitment to our patients and the communities we serve,” said Amber Price, senior vice president and chief nursing officer.
“As an industry leader, we set our bar high, with the goal of exceeding expectations for access to care, patient experience, outcomes, and equity. We want to thank all of our care teams for providing individualized, focused, and holistic care to every family choosing Sentara for their birth journey.”
This year, Sentara is on track to deliver more than 15,000 babies across the health system with approximately 1,500 from SNVMC.
The six Sentara Hospitals in Virginia that received the high-performing designation are:
- Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge
- Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton
- Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk
- Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach
- Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center in Williamsburg
“We are honored that Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and our Women’s Health Center have been recognized among the nation’s best for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report,” remarked Sheena Kundid, director, Women’s Health Center. “This achievement reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to providing safe, personalized, and compassionate care for every mother and baby. We take pride in creating an environment where families feel supported throughout their birth journey.”
The U.S. News bases its Best Hospitals for Maternity Care rankings on quality measures such as:
- C-section rates
- newborn severe complication rates, breast milk feeding rates
- routine vaginal birth after cesarean delivery rates
- episiotomy rates
- whether a hospital meets federal criteria for “birthing-friendly” practices
- whether a hospital tracked and reported outcomes for patients of different races and ethnicities
To create the rankings, U.S. News conducted a nationwide survey and, where appropriate, validated data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The reporting period was 2024.
Providing maternity care to communities with less access
In addition, SNVMC along with three other Sentara hospitals were named Maternity Access Hospitals, which recognizes hospitals that provide maternity care services in areas that would otherwise have limited care options. Around the country, only 147 hospitals received this designation.
The four Sentara hospitals recognized as Maternity Access Hospitals are:
- Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center in Williamsburg
- Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge
Hospitals were designated as Maternity Access Hospital if they met either of the following criteria:
- The hospital was the only hospital providing maternity care within its county and was located in a county with fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births.
- Because counties vary in size throughout the country, U.S. News also included hospitals that were the only hospital within a 15-mile radius and were located in a county with fewer than 134 obstetric providers per 10,000 births.
For more information on the rankings, visit usnews.com.
Visit the Sentara website for more information on Sentara’s maternity care services.
