MyMichigan Medical Center Midland received a positive Maternal Level of Care verification report from The Joint Commission following a recent review of the hospital’s maternity program. The verification process evaluates hospitals against national standards for quality and patient safety, reviewing clinical care, safety procedures, and systems that support safe care for patients, staff, and the community.
“This verification reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and team members who work every day to provide safe, high-quality care,” said Tonia Vanwieren, B.S.N., R.N., system nursing director of maternal child and women’s health for MyMichigan Health. “The review process helps us evaluate our work, strengthen our systems and continue providing the best care possible for the patients and communities we serve.”
Program evaluators recognized the team’s strong quality and performance improvement efforts, driven by robust, data-informed decision making. By continuously reviewing patient outcomes and clinical metrics, the maternity team works to strengthen care practices and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies across the region.
Also noted, was a key strength of the program in its focus on collaboration and community support. As part of that effort, MyMichigan has embedded a medical social worker within the obstetrics office, creating a strong safety net for patients who need mental health support, community resources, or additional care coordination during pregnancy and postpartum.
“Families benefit from a wide range of education and support services we offer, including childbirth education classes, lactation support, Post-Birth Warning Signs education, and new parent support groups designed to help families feel confident and supported as they welcome a new baby,” said Vanwieren.
Patient safety remains a top priority for MyMichigan Medical Center Midland’s maternity team. Staff regularly train and prepare for obstetric emergencies, ensuring rapid recognition and response for conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage, maternal sepsis, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and maternal transport when higher levels of care are required. Interdisciplinary collaboration and simulation training help teams maintain readiness for these critical situations.
Program reviewers also highlighted the team’s strong commitment to staff education and professional development, including comprehensive orientation for new team members and ongoing training. Clinical staff maintain certification in fetal heart monitoring to ensure expert monitoring during labor. The program also uses enhanced recovery protocols and evidence-based labor support tools, including hydrotherapy, Spinning Babies® positioning techniques, birthing and peanut balls, nitrous oxide, and other comfort measures to support physiologic birth.
MyMichigan Medical Center Midland also participates in statewide maternal quality initiatives, including the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) and the Obstetrics Initiative (OBI). The maternity team collaborates regionally through Michigan’s perinatal quality initiatives and tracks outcomes using advanced reporting dashboards to guide ongoing improvements.
“Our maternity program reflects strong leadership, teamwork and collaboration across departments,” concluded VanWieren. “From coordination between obstetrics and emergency services to regular interdisciplinary quality meetings, our teams are committed to maintaining a culture of safety and continuous improvement for the families we serve.”
Those interested in more information on maternity care at MyMichigan, may visit www.mymichigan.org/maternity
MyMichigan Health, a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan, is a leader in providing award-winning, high-quality care across the 26-counties it serves. With two tertiary hospitals in Midland and Saginaw, MyMichigan also has Medical Centers in Alma, Alpena, Clare, Gladwin, Mt. Pleasant, Sault Ste. Marie, Standish, Tawas, Towne Centre and West Branch. MyMichigan Health provides a full continuum of care across a wide array of settings, including urgent care centers, home health, virtual care, as well as medical offices. Their expertise spans 85 specialties and subspecialties, including behavioral health, cardiology, primary care, hematology/oncology, neurosciences, orthopedics, women and children services, and vascular surgery among others. Dedicated to advancing the future of medicine, MyMichigan Health collaborates with leading institutions to offer medical education programs. These initiatives are designed to train the next generation of medical professionals, including medical students, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nursing students and other clinical experts. For four consecutive years, from 2022 to 2025, Forbes has acknowledged MyMichigan Health as one of “America’s Best Employers by State” and, in 2025, was also named to Forbes’ list of ‘America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals.’ With more than 13,200 employees and operational support staff, MyMichigan Health is a significant employer within its service areas and is committed to creating healthy communities and responding to the changing needs of the more than one million residents it supports. In fiscal year 2025, MyMichigan Health provided $243 million in community benefits, as well as supported its patients and families with new equipment, services and programs with funds raised by the MyMichigan Health Foundation, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw Foundation, and Field Neurosciences Institute.