Williamsport, Pa., June 3, 2026 – UPMC Williamsport and UPMC Wellsboro are recipients of the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s (PA PQC) Designations Awards. Both UPMC Magee-Womens facilities at these hospitals earned gold designations to recognize their work in Maternal Sepsis.

A gold designation signifies a hospital’s commitment to data-driven, population-specific health goals and patient voice in quality improvement work. The hospitals have established multidisciplinary teams dedicated to continuous improvement in maternal and newborn care through the sharing of best practices and data within the hospital and community, addressing issues known to affect maternal mortality.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our teams at UPMC Williamsport and UPMC Wellsboro to provide safe, high-quality care for mothers and babies across our region,” said Brenda Terry-Manchester, director, UPMC Magee-Womens in North Central Pa. “Their efforts have helped strengthen care through collaboration, evidence-based practices, and a continued focus on the needs and voices of our patients.”

In Pennsylvania, perinatal health issues persist, including racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes, higher-than-average maternal sepsis rates, and drug overdose deaths during pregnancy and the postpartum timeframe. The PA PQC addresses these challenges through initiatives such as Maternal Opioid Use Disorder, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Maternal Sepsis, and Safe Sleep, with the goal of improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes across the state.

“We are proud to recognize the hospitals across Pennsylvania that are leading the way in improving maternal and newborn outcomes in childbirth,” said Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, president and CEO, Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF). “Their commitment to quality improvement and patient-centered care is helping to address some of the most pressing challenges in maternal health. These designations reflect meaningful progress toward safer care for all families in the Commonwealth.”

Hospitals earning silver or gold designation have also undertaken additional projects focused on health equity and/or patient voice within maternal and neonatal care.

Designation awards and levels are based on meeting quality improvement milestone criteria over a 12-month period, starting from April 2025 to March 2026.

The PA PQC is administered by the JHF and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeastern Pa. PQC (NEPaPQC). The awards were announced and presented during a ceremony at the annual Pa. PQC conference held at the Blair County Convention Center, Altoona, Pa.

To learn more about UPMC Magee-Womens services in northcentral Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/WomensHealthNCPA.