NIAGARA FALLS, NY — Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC), an independent regional medical center serving the Greater Niagara region in northwestern New York, is proud to announce its designation as a Birthing-Friendly Hospital by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This designation recognizes NFMMC’s compliance with the CMS’s Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure under the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to superior maternity care.
“Being recognized as a Birthing-Friendly hospital by the CMS honors our commitment and reflects our dedication to providing high-quality maternity care,” said Sheila Kee, Chief Operating Officer at NFMMC. “We are devoted to supporting the Niagara region’s families with outstanding prenatal and postnatal care.”
The designation was established in 2023 by the CMS to help individuals identify hospitals and health systems participating in a statewide or national perinatal quality improvement collaborative program and implementing evidence-based care to improve maternal health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 80% of deaths related to pregnancy could have been avoided. Moreover, these deaths have a more significant impact on individuals belonging to certain ethnic groups such as Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. The Birthing-Friendly designation ensures every pregnant and postpartum individual can effectively determine which facilities they can trust to provide access to quality maternity care.
Aligned with its Birthing-Friendly designation, NFMMC’s Women’s Health Services of Niagara continues to uphold a high standard of maternal and women’s health care. The facility offers comprehensive obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health services across all life stages. Board-certified OB/GYNs and medical professionals at NFMMC are committed to empowering patients by providing essential support and information for making informed health decisions.
NFMMC’s Labor and Delivery services feature private rooms that accommodate all stages of childbirth in one continuous, comfortable environment. The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certified team offers 24-hour support, including lactation consulting, and collaborates with Oishei Children’s Hospital to enhance care for mothers and newborns.
By the end of this year, all nurses at NFMMC will be nationally certified for electronic fetal monitoring, significantly enhancing safety during childbirth.
In addition to labor and delivery, Board-certified OB/GYNs and medical professionals at NFMMC provide comprehensive obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health services across all stages of life. These services include routine annual examinations, advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgeries, and a vast array of contraceptive options. The P3 Center offers a range of free services to support families during pregnancy and beyond. These services include the Every Woman & Child Counts community-based doula program and a Perinatal & Infant Community Health Collaboratives home visiting program, in addition to numerous community support initiatives.
ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Founded in 1895, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC) has a long tradition of serving the Niagara community. NFMMC’s hospital and primary stroke program are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, and its primary care network is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Memorial’s inpatient services include a cardiac/stroke unit, a medical–surgical unit, an ICU, a Labor and Delivery unit, and an Adult Inpatient Psychiatry unit, the only one of its kind in Niagara County. Memorial serves as a Center for Community Health by operating five primary care centers, a large outpatient adult mental health clinic, a Health Home, and several innovative community-based services. Thanks to a partnership with Catholic Health, Kaleida Health, and Erie County Medical Center, NFMMC operates the only cardiac catheterization laboratory in Niagara County. Memorial is also home to the Golisano Medical Oncology Center, which operates in collaboration with Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center.
