Downey Medical Center Named ‘Best’ Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for Maternity Care

DOWNEY − U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Downey Medical Center along with 10 other Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals as a 2026 High Performing medical center for Maternity Care.

This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study.

Kaiser Permanente Anaheim, Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irvine, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Panorama City, Riverside, San Diego and Zion medical centers also earned a “High Performing” designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by several factors. They included severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.

U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meets their family’s needs.

From the beginning, U.S. News has based its evaluation of labor and delivery services on objective data collected from hospitals across the United States. In 2025, a record number of 901 hospitals submitted data via the annual Maternity Services Survey.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide safe, compassionate, and exceptional care, making sure every family receives the best possible experience during this important time in their lives,” said Mitch Winnik, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “Recognition as a high-performing hospital for maternity care speaks to the trust families place in us and the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff.”

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians and staff who go above and beyond to provide safe, evidence‑based care for our patients,” said Dr. Laurie Anne Chu, area medical director, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “We are proud to be acknowledged for our commitment to meeting the highest clinical standards while ensuring every patient feels supported throughout their maternity journey.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, birthing-friendly practices and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.