SAINT JOSEPH, Mich. -- The Economic Alliance for Michigan has awarded Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph and Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in Niles the Maternity Care Excellence Award.

This is the 3^rd consecutive year Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in Niles has received this award.

The award was created in 2018 as part of EAM's Maternity Care Project. The project is designed to decrease the states infant mortality rate, reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections, and be the educational resource for new and expecting parents residing in Michigan.

“We are honored to earn this distinction, which highlights hospitals with high levels of quality maternity care and our dedication to delivering excellent, safe care for moms and babies in our communities,” said Benjamin Wood, DO, Medical Director, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Spectrum Health Lakeland.

For the award, hospitals are evaluated in 4 areas: Cesarean rates, episiotomy rates, elective early delivery rates, and maternity care processes. To be awarded, hospitals need to fully meet the standard in all four areas in the same calendar year.

These Lakeland hospitals are among two of six Spectrum Health hospitals that have obtained the award. Such hospitals are Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial in Fremont, Spectrum Health Pennock in Hastings, Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, and Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital in Zeeland.