Receives Indiana Hospital Association Inspire Hospital of Distinction award

Story by: Angie Glotzbach on January 26, 2024

Norton Clark Hospital recently was recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association, in partnership with Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and Indiana State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, for its commitment to infant and maternal health at the fourth annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program.

INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN (Protecting Indiana’s Newborns) grant, was developed to implement best practices for care of Hoosier moms and babies, and to recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.

Norton Clark Hospital earned a Hospital of Distinction recognition based on implementing best practices in seven key areas: infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco use prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage, maternal hypertension and social determinants of health.

 “We are honored to be recognized again by the Indiana Hospital Association for our work in infant and maternal health,” said Judy Stewart, director, women’s health services and neonatal intensive care unit, Norton Clark Hospital. “Norton Clark Hospital celebrated its Level II NICU five-year anniversary this year. We are proud to offer education in newborn safe sleep and our NEST (Nurture. Encourage. Stabilize. Treat.) program that helps support mothers and babies affected by substance use disorder. We celebrate our team and are happy to receive recognition from the state of Indiana. At Norton Clark Hospital, we believe there is no limit to what our care can do.”

“The daily work of our delivering hospitals makes a monumental impact on the lives of so many Hoosier moms and infants in every corner of our state,” Gov. Holcomb said. “These caregivers are much needed and appreciated, and we will continue to partner with them to support our shared goal of a healthy Hoosier tomorrow.”

“Our birthing hospitals work tremendously hard to make sure all babies born in Indiana have the best start at life, while caring for the mothers who delivered them,” Dr. Weaver said. “Reducing infant and maternal mortality requires a continued multipronged approach over the course of many years to see impactful change. It is heartening to see the progress we’ve made, but we must continue to adopt best practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.”