Location
3300 Mercy Health Blvd.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211

Certified Since
2023

Website
mercy.com

Contact
513-215-5000

Mercy Health - West Hospital

At Mercy Health, our gynecologists, urologists, and women's health specialists deliver personal, high-quality care for women of all ages and at every stage of life. Our women's health care covers the full scope of women’s pelvic and reproductive health. This includes gynecology, obstetrics, maternity services, reproductive health, and preventive medicine. Our board-certified specialists also provide routine gynecological care, infertility evaluations, and advanced gynecological surgery.  

The Mercy Health family has welcomed a new addition — a state-of-the-art hospital on the west side. With a Family Birthing Center that offers family-centered maternity care, childbirth education, lactation services, 24-hour anesthesia coverage, neonatal care, a Level II Special Care Nursery and the home-like ambiance of all private patient rooms, expecting families like yours, can welcome new additions in the comfort of your home community.    

Maternal Care
- Family Birthing Centers
- Preconception Care
- Prenatal Care 
- Lactation Services (Breastfeeding)  
- Childbirth and Parenting Education 
- Obstetrical Services    

Infant Care
- Level II Special Care Nursery 
- Pediatric Specialty Services 
- Neonatal Care 
- Safe Sleep

Mama Certification

Infant Care

Hospitals are awarded points for their certification based on guidelines that assign each metric a point value, which is split into parts based on the sub-questions in each metric. Hospitals receive points by sharing some or all of the metrics data.

METRICS FINDINGS PROGRESS
Health Equity on Race & Ethnicity i

Infant mortality rates are substantially higher for Black infants than for White infants in the United States. In 2021, Black babies were nearly 5 times more likely to die than White babies.

Health disparities are preventable poor health outcomes experienced by populations disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location, and environment. By monitoring health outcomes by race and ethnicity, hospital facilities can adapt processes and policies to provide more equitable quality care and improve the health outcomes of their patient populations.

The hospital facility has tracking, policies, and procedures in place to address racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes related to infant care.

There are policies or procedures in place for root cause analysis that recognizes patient race/ethnicity. The procedure for root cause analysis and investigation is all safety events are entered into our electronic reporting system. This reporting system includes demographic fields such as race and ethnicity. Demographic data is analyzed and considered for our root cause action plans to improve patient care.  

Actions are being taken to address any disparities in health outcomes. Examples include Lactation support, Cradle Cincinnati, Social work support for discharge needs, Perinatal outreach teams, WIC & Help Me Grow.

Breastfeeding i

Breastfeeding boosts the immune system and brain development, reduces the risk of infection, and reduces the risk of infant mortality. Racial disparities in breastfeeding rates can have a significant impact on infant health outcomes. Studies have found that Black mothers are less likely to initiate breastfeeding than their White counterparts and are more likely to stop breastfeeding before their infant is six months old.

The national rate of exclusive breastfeeding in 2019 is 62.6%.

Ohio’s rate of exclusive breastfeeding in 2021 is 51.7%.

The percentage of babies breastfed or fed breast milk while the newborn is at the hospital facility is above the 2021 Ohio Rate of 51.7%.  

The hospital facility has the ability to track its race and ethnicity specific to exclusive breast milk feeding. The hospital facility would be able to report if needed. 

The hospital facility has received five stars from Ohio First Steps for Healthy Babies breastfeeding program. 

The hospital facility participates in the Ohio First Steps for Healthy Babies breastfeeding program and has achieved Five-Star status.

The hospital promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding in their organization through providing Certified Lactation Consultants; Staff Education; Lactation rooms within birthing units; breast pump availability; YoMINGO App-free to patients/families 24/7; Zoom Lactation classes; discharge phone call to breastfeeding moms; and donor milk program.  

Unexpected Complications in Term Newborns i

The most important childbirth outcome for families is bringing home a healthy baby. While there have been measures developed to assess clinical practices and outcomes in preterm infants, there is a lack of metrics that assess the health outcomes of term infants who represent over 90% of all births. No existing national or Ohio baseline data exists yet for this metric as it is defined by the Joint Commission.

The overall local rate for newborns with severe complications and moderate complications from eight hospital-based birthing facilities in Butler and Hamilton County in 2021 is 2.59%.

Newborn complications at this facility are lower than the 2021 Hamilton and Butler County average of 2.59% 

This hospital facility has the ability to track disparities by race and ethnicity in this category.  

Safe Sleep i

Safe sleep is important because it helps to reduce the risk of sudden unexplained infant death (SUID). It is recommended that babies sleep on their back, in a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards and is free of loose bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a well-known category of SUID

Racial disparities in sleep-related infant deaths are significant and contribute to the overall disparity in infant mortality rates. Black infants are more than twice as likely to die from a SUID as White infants.

The hospital facility implements a safe sleep screening procedure. 

The hospital facility implements a safe sleep screening procedure aligned with the 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.  

This hospital facility does not participate in Cribs for Kids Accreditation. Mercy Health West meets all the requirements of Gold Level certification for the national cribs for kids initiative but has never sought formal certification. 

Mercy Health Cincinnati is a subgrantee to the Cincinnati Health Department as part of Ohio Dept. of Health’s Cribs for Kids program. Participation requires a written agreement, safe sleep assessments, education, and crib delivery during a home visit and a follow-up phone call or home visit at 6 weeks postpartum.

Mama Certified Promotion i

The Mama Certified badge is a symbol of commitment and trust that should be present during a mom’s entire birthing journey, from prenatal care to postpartum support. For bringing about change, visibility and repetition is key. These visual reminders are not only important for moms but also for staff.

The hospital facility demonstrates its public commitment to Mama Certified through the distribution of physical, digital and portable communication tools.

Community fliers and stickers will be distributed by Family Medicine/Pediatric Practices and Perinatal Outreach Team.

Patient fliers prenatal/postpartum will be distributed by the Family Birthing Center. 

Physical signage will be the placard at L&D Registration as well as printable posters and static clings throughout the Family Birthing Center.  

Internal communications will include BSMH Central, Friday Feels Newsletter, Leadership Townhalls, Market Newsletter. 

External communications will include press release, website, addition of the logo/info on participating hospital location pages and promotion on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and the Mercy Health Blog.

Training & Staff Engagement i

Training helps hospital staff recognize that biases exist and helps them take steps to reduce the impact of those biases on workplace interactions and decisions.

The hospital facility will participate in training and engagement of staff as it relates to Mama Certified.

The majority (>50%) of Women's Health and OBGYN staff will participate in the online ‘Intro to Mama Certified’ training offered by Cradle Cincinnati.  

The Mama Certified training was built into this facility’s internal learning system. Workday module for Mama Certified training was assigned January 2, 2024 to current birthing center nurses, technicians and Hospital Unit Coordinators. New hires to the birthing center will be assigned the training as part of orientation. 

Each year Mercy Health determines required learnings for associates. The following trainings are currently available and assignable in our Learning System: 3R Bias and Anti-racism, Race Ethnicity Data Collection, Cultural Competency Essentials, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identification (SOGI). All Managers and above in the Cincinnati Market are required to complete 3R Bias and Anti-Racism training and New Leader Onboarding Plans include completion of this training within 90 days. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identification (SOGI) was required for all staff in 2023. The training draws specific attention to common inclusive behaviors and promoting environments of safety and respect. 

Two members of hospital facility leadership serve on the Cradle Cincinnati Learning Collaborative Circle of Advisors.

Center the Voices of Patients with Lived Experiences with Queens Village i

Centering the voices of those with lived experiences is essential for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and empathetic society. It fosters a culture of listening, learning, and empathy, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all members of society.

The hospital facility is actively working with Queens Village to center the voices of patients with lived experiences.

The hospital facility has met with Cradle Cincinnati and Queens Village representatives to outline opportunities to co-create strategies supporting equitable maternal and infant care.

The hospital facility will participate in quarterly dialogue meetings with a hospital facility-specific Queens Village Hospital Advisory Board with community representative and staff. 

Mercy Health Cincinnati is working with Cradle Cincinnati to seat a Queen's Village Advisory Board that will support all Mercy Health birthing hospitals in Greater Cincinnati including Anderson Hospital. The team has recruited five Queens Village Board Members comprised of patients and staff who will work alongside the hospital facility’s representation to identify areas for focus and collaboration.

The hospital facility will collaborate with Queens Village to co-create strategies supporting equitable maternal and infant health. 

Pathways to Improvement i

Crafting strategies to improve maternal and infant health is essential for driving systemic change by enabling targeted interventions, fostering collaboration and engagement, facilitating learning and adaptation, and building momentum for sustained impact. It provides a structured approach to addressing complex systemic issues and achieving meaningful and lasting transformation.

The hospital facility has outlined the following strategies to improve maternal and infant health. 

Bon Secours Mercy Health, with leadership representation from the Cincinnati Market, is participating in two national equity collaboratives: Premier’s Health Equity Collaborative and The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Pursing Equity Collaborative. 

Mercy Health participates in Premier Perinatal Improvement Collaborative (PPCI) and Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC). 

Mercy Health is working on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Collection in Ambulatory and Acute Care to increase awareness of social needs and connections to community-based support. 

Mercy Health is working on increasing access to critical education and support for all parents regardless of their ability to pay through free childbrith education and free lactation support. 

Mercy Health has developed a Leadership Council for Diversity and Inclusion (LCDI) with the goal to increase inclusion and equity in all strategic focus areas including Community, Workplace, Workforce, Patient Experience & Quality, and Innovation & Growth.

Mercy Health’s Perinatal Outreach Program is a team of Community Health Workers that provide education, advocacy, and support to pregnant mothers. They assess social needs and help remove obstacles contributing to high infant mortality rates, pre-term births, and racial disparities in maternal and infant health. The team has a particular focus on Black families and neighborhoods with historically high infant mortality rates. 

Mercy Health collaborates with Produce Perks Midwest to provide healthy fruits and vegetables to pregnant moms who are experiencing food insecurity. 

Mercy Health hosts weekly Baby Cafés. These breastfeeding support groups are designed to provide new parents with a safe and comfortable space to share their experiences and receive professional guidance.

Mercy Health has 100 associates engaged in Employee Resource Groups (ERG): ABLE, Emerging Leaders, Nursing ONE Voice, PRIDE, Race Relations, Stars & Stripes, Women's Network, Working Parents.

Infant Care Advocate

The hospital facility received 93.5% of the measurable points for the Infant Care Focus Area.

93.5%

Maternal Care

Hospitals are awarded points for their certification based on guidelines that assign each metric a point value, which is split into parts based on the sub-questions in each metric. Hospitals receive points by sharing some or all of the metrics data.

METRICS FINDINGS PROGRESS
Health Equity on Race & Ethnicity i

Black mothers die at more than two and half times the rate of other mothers in Ohio (Ohio Department of Health, 2020) regardless of their parents´ socio-economic status or health behaviors. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variations in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.

Health disparities are preventable disparate outcomes to optimal health experienced by populations disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location, and environment. By doing so, hospitals can adapt processes and policies to provide more equitable quality care and improve the health outcomes of their patient populations.

The hospital facility has tracking, policies, and procedures in place to address racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes related to maternal care.   

There is a policy or procedure in place for root cause analysis that recognizes patient race/ ethnicity related to maternal care. The procedure for root cause analysis and investigation is all safety events are entered into our electronic reporting system. This reporting system includes demographic fields such as race and ethnicity. Demographic data is analyzed and considered for our root cause action plans to improve patient care. 

There are actions being taken to address disparities in health outcomes related to maternal care by currently collecting race/ethnicity data to identify disparities through root cause analysis. 

Any disparities identified receive follow-up resources based on the need and concerns identified from Social Determinant of Health (SDOH).  

Hypertension Project and the ODH/AIM Hemorrhage project.

Scheduled Early Delivery (Elective Delivery) i

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has identified this measure as a key area to improve maternal and infant health. By providing care to pregnant individuals that follows best practices that advance health care quality, safety, and equity, hospitals and doctors can improve chances for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

Guidelines developed by doctors and researchers say it’s best to wait until the 39th completed week of pregnancy to deliver the baby because important fetal development takes place in the baby’s brain and lungs during the last few weeks of pregnancy.

The national average rate of elective deliveries in 2022 is 2%.

The Ohio average rate of elective deliveries in 2022 is 2%.

The hospital facility did not have any deliveries scheduled earlier than recommended during the reporting period. 

This hospital facility has the ability to track disparities in this area by race and ethnicity.  

Low-Risk Cesarean Births i

Cesarean deliveries place birthing individuals and infants at higher risk for adverse outcomes. Reducing the rate of cesarean births for individuals at low risk from a vaginal birth provides an opportunity to improve both maternal and infant health.

The rate of low-risk cesareans is slightly lower than the 2021 Ohio Average Rate of 26.3%.

This hospital facility has the ability to track disparities in this area by race and ethnicity.  

Birthing-Friendly Hospital i

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has identified this measure as a key area to improve maternal and infant health. Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative programs can help reduce racial disparities in maternal health outcomes by promoting access to evidence-based practices, providing education and training on racial disparities and health disparities, and engaging with communities to create culturally sensitive care models.

The hospital facility has met the criteria to be recognized as birthing friendly.

Hospital facility participates in a statewide and/or national perinatal quality improvement collaborative program aimed at improving maternal outcomes during inpatient labor, delivery, and postpartum care.   

Hospital facility has implemented patient safety practices or bundles related to maternal morbidity to address complications, including, but not limited to, hemorrhage, severe hypertension/preeclampsia or sepsis.

Hospital facility participates in ODH Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM) Project in Hypertension and Hemorrhage projects as well as Babies First Steps.  

Patient safety practices that this hospital facility participate in include Maternal Hypertension; Obstetrical Hemorrhage, Breastfeeding, Sepsis; Reduction of NTSV (low-risk cesarean). 

Smoking Cessation Support i

Smoking cessation is important to maternal health because smoking can cause serious health risks for pregnant people and their babies. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and birth defects. Additionally, smoking can lead to a host of other health problems including increased risk of miscarriage, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, and increased risk of placenta previa. Quitting smoking before or during pregnancy can help reduce these risks and ensure a healthier pregnancy.

The hospital facility provides smoking cessation resources for women and birthing people. 

Treatment options include Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patch, referral to Ohio Quitline, tobacco cessation booklet and smoking cessation information added to Mercy Health West YoMingo site which has links to the CDC and smokefree.gov. 

Postpartum Mental Health i

Perinatal depression, which includes major and minor depressive episodes that occur during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery, is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period, affecting one in seven women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care providers screen patients at least once during the perinatal period for depression and anxiety symptoms using a standardized, validated tool.

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects one in eight women; however, the risk is 1.6 times higher for Black women than White women. Black women are less likely to receive help due to factors such as financial barriers, stigma associated with mental health struggles, structural racism and a historical mistrust of the health care system. Maternal mental health symptoms and issues among Black women are often overlooked and under-addressed.

The hospital facility provides perinatal depression screening and referral services.

This hospital facility completes the CSSRS (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale) upon admission. Edinburgh Postpartum Depression screen is completed by patient prior to discharge. Patients are provided with AVS depression information.  

Postpartum Family Planning i

Postpartum family planning is the process of planning for the future of a family after the birth of a child. This includes discussing and deciding on contraception, spacing of pregnancies, and other family planning options.

Postpartum family planning is important for maternal health because it helps to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies and the associated health risks. It also helps to ensure that women have the time and resources to recover from childbirth and to bond with their newborns. Additionally, postpartum family planning can help to reduce the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as to improve the overall health of mothers and their families.

The hospital facility´s physician group discusses family planning and contraceptive counseling with patients in an outpatient setting. 

This hospital facility has an employed physician group affiliated with our campus. The employed and contracted physician groups discuss family planning and contraceptives with patients.  
Access to Early Prenatal Care i

Early prenatal care can reduce risks for complications related to pregnancy or birth. Early identification can ensure that women with complex problems, chronic illnesses, or other risks are connected to appropriate specialists. Early high-quality prenatal care is critical to improving pregnancy outcomes.

The hospital facility collects information on early prenatal care. 

76.37% of women who gave birth at this hospital facility received a prenatal care visit in the first trimester at this facility.

This hospital facility works with providers offices to collect and share information via EPIC, an electronic medical record system, on prenatal care.  

This hospital facility works with providers offices to collect and share information via EPIC, an electronic medical record system, on prenatal care.  

Patient Satisfaction i

By collecting patient feedback, hospitals can identify areas of improvement and make necessary changes to ensure the delivery experience is as positive as possible. Collecting patient satisfaction related to the experience of care during labor and delivery can help reduce racial disparities by providing insights into the quality of care received by people from different racial backgrounds, allowing hospitals to identify and address disparities. By understanding the unique challenges faced by different racial groups, hospitals can better tailor their services and create a more equitable healthcare system.

The hospital facility collects patient satisfaction data during and after labor and delivery stay.     

Hospital facility collects patient satisfaction data during a labor and delivery stay.  

Sources of information for patient satisfaction while inpatient include leader rounding and employee recognition awards. Press Ganey Surveys are sent to a sample of inpatient discharges and follow-up phone calls are placed to all patients. 

The hospital facility shares aggregate or summary results of patient satisfaction surveys with the internal care team. During monthly unit meetings, monthly nursing leadership meetings. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers Systems (HCAHPS) data is posted on Hospital care & Leapfrog Hospital Survey. 

Mama Certified Promotion i

The Mama Certified badge is a symbol of commitment and trust that should be present during a mom’s entire birthing journey, from prenatal care to postpartum support. For bringing about change, visibility and repetition is key. These visual reminders are not only important for moms but also for staff.

The hospital facility demonstrates its public commitment to Mama Certified through the distribution of physical, digital and portable communication tools.

Community fliers and stickers will be distributed by Family Medicine/Pediatric Practices and Perinatal Outreach Team. 

Patient fliers prenatal/postpartum will be distributed by the Family Birthing Center. 

Physical signage will be the placard at L&D Registration as well as printable posters and static clings throughout the Family Birthing Center.

Internal communications will include BSMH Central, Friday Feels Newsletter, Leadership Townhalls, Market Newsletter. 

External communications will include press release, website, addition of the logo/info on participating hospital location pages and promotion on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and the Mercy Health Blog.

Training & Staff Engagement i

Training helps hospital staff recognize that biases exist and helps them take steps to reduce the impact of those biases on workplace interactions and decisions.

The hospital facility will participate in training and engagement of staff as it relates to Mama Certified. 

The majority (>50%) of Women's Health and OBGYN staff will participate in the online ‘Intro to Mama Certified’ training offered by Cradle Cincinnati.  

The Mama Certified training was built into this facility’s internal learning system. Workday module for Mama Certified training was assigned January 2, 2024 to current birthing center nurses, technicians and Hospital Unit Coordinators. New hires to the birthing center will be assigned the training as part of orientation.

Each year Mercy Health determines required learnings for associates. The following trainings are currently available and assignable in our Learning System: 3R Bias and Anti-racism, Race Ethnicity Data Collection, Cultural Competency Essentials, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identification (SOGI). All Managers and above in the Cincinnati Market are required to complete 3R Bias and Anti-Racism training and New Leader Onboarding Plans include completion of this training within 90 days. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identification (SOGI) was required for all staff in 2023. The training draws specific attention to common inclusive behaviors and promoting environments of safety and respect. 

Two members of hospital facility leadership serve on the Cradle Cincinnati Learning Collaborative Circle of Advisors.

Center the Voices of Patients with Lived Experiences with Queens Village i

Centering the voices of those with lived experiences is essential for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and empathetic society. It fosters a culture of listening, learning, and empathy, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all members of society.

The hospital facility is actively working with Queens Village to center the voices of patients with lived experiences. 

The hospital facility has met with Cradle Cincinnati and Queens Village representatives to outline opportunities to co-create strategies supporting equitable maternal and infant care. 

The hospital facility will participate in quarterly dialogue meetings with a hospital facility-specific Queens Village Hospital Advisory Board with community representative and staff.

Mercy Health Cincinnati is working with Cradle Cincinnati to seat a Queen's Village Advisory Board that will support all Mercy Health birthing hospitals in Greater Cincinnati including Anderson Hospital. The team has recruited five Queens Village Board Members comprised of patients and staff who will work alongside the hospital facility’s representation to identify areas for focus and collaboration. 

The hospital facility will collaborate with Queens Village to co-create strategies supporting equitable maternal and infant health.
Pathways to Improvement i

Crafting strategies to improve maternal and infant health is essential for driving systemic change by enabling targeted interventions, fostering collaboration and engagement, facilitating learning and adaptation, and building momentum for sustained impact. It provides a structured approach to addressing complex systemic issues and achieving meaningful and lasting transformation.

The hospital facility has outlined the following strategies to improve maternal and infant health. 

Bon Secours Mercy Health, with leadership representation from the Cincinnati Market, is participating in two national equity collaboratives: Premier’s Health Equity Collaborative and The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Pursing Equity Collaborative.

Mercy Health participates in Premier Perinatal Improvement Collaborative (PPCI) and Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC).

Mercy Health is working on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Collection in Ambulatory and Acute Care to increase awareness of social needs and connections to community-based support.

Mercy Health is working on increasing access to critical education and support for all parents regardless of their ability to pay through free childbrith education and free lactation support. 

Mercy Health has developed a Leadership Council for Diversity and Inclusion (LCDI) with the goal to increase inclusion and equity in all strategic focus areas including Community, Workplace, Workforce, Patient Experience & Quality, and Innovation & Growth. 

Mercy Health’s Perinatal Outreach Program is a team of Community Health Workers that provide education, advocacy, and support to pregnant mothers. They assess social needs and help remove obstacles contributing to high infant mortality rates, pre-term births, and racial disparities in maternal and infant health. The team has a particular focus on Black families and neighborhoods with historically high infant mortality rates.

Mercy Health collaborates with Produce Perks Midwest to provide healthy fruits and vegetables to pregnant moms who are experiencing food insecurity.

Mercy Health hosts weekly Baby Cafés. These breastfeeding support groups are designed to provide new parents with a safe and comfortable space to share their experiences and receive professional guidance.

Mercy Health has 100 associates engaged in Employee Resource Groups (ERG): ABLE, Emerging Leaders, Nursing ONE Voice, PRIDE, Race Relations, Stars & Stripes, Women's Network, Working Parents.

Infant Care Advocate

The hospital facility received 100% of the measurable points for the Maternal Care Focus Area.

100%