The midwives who deliver babies at Northfield Hospital’s Birth Center have earned national recognition for the second year in a row for best practices in three priorities, including patient experience.
The “Triple Aim Award” from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) recognizes midwifery practices that improve patient experience; reduce cost of care; and improve the health of populations.
Just 32 midwifery practices across the U.S. earned the “Triple Aim Award” for their 2025 performance among 147 participating practices. NH+C is one of only 2 Minnesota hospitals to earn Triple Aim honors. Three stand-alone birth centers in Minnesota also qualified.
Hospital-based midwives can offer a birth experience with minimal intervention, while having the resources of a hospital or doctor close by if needed.
“This important accomplishment speaks volumes to the expert care that our midwives provide, through their dedication and compassion for their patients, ” says NH+C Director of Inpatient Services Sherri Meyer. “Achieving this honor two years in a row demonstrates the ongoing excellence of our midwife care, on par with best practices across the U.S.”
ACNM’s annual Benchmarking Project is designed to monitor and improve midwifery practices, based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) "Triple Aim" framework as a standard for recognizing high-performing practices. Practices that report high breastfeeding rates, low preterm birth and cesarean rates, and certain fiscal variables are designated as "Triple Aim Best Practices" in midwife care.
"Being recognized two years in a row is a testament to our incredible team of midwives and their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care,” says NH+C Birth Center Manager Michelle Bailey. “We’re very proud to provide outstanding care to families across our community.”
NH+C’s Birth Center is on track to deliver 750+ babies this year.
Learn about midwife care at NH+C and meet our certified nurse midwives.