BFUSA is delighted to celebrate a remarkable milestone in infant feeding care, as ten hospitals across the United States have now successfully maintained their Baby-Friendly designation for over 25 years. This extraordinary achievement is a testament to their sustained excellence, unwavering commitment to exceptional maternal and newborn care, years of dedicated leadership and teamwork, and a continued passion for providing care that lasts a lifetime.
The ten hospitals that have sustained Baby-Friendly designation for 25+ years are:
- EvergreenHealth, Kirkland, Washington — Designated since 1996
- St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Illinois — Designated since 1998
- Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, St. Johnsbury, Vermont — Designated since 1999
- St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Hospital, Edgewood, Kentucky — Designated since 1999
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts — Designated since 1999
- Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York — Designated since 2000
- South County Hospital, Wakefield, Rhode Island — Designated since 2000
- Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut — Designated since 2000
- Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Elkhorn, Wisconsin — Designated since 2001
- Salinas Valley Health Medical Center, Salinas, California — Designated since 2001
Eileen FitzPatrick, CEO of Baby-Friendly USA, expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “Maintaining Baby-Friendly designation for over 25 years is an exceptional accomplishment. It reflects the relentless dedication of these hospitals to providing the highest standards of care for infants and mothers. Sustaining excellence in infant feeding support takes effort, but these facilities have shown that it is possible with commitment and teamwork. They are truly making a lasting impact in their communities.”
As we celebrate these ten hospitals, we look forward to welcoming more facilities into this exclusive club as we encourage more institutions to maintain and uphold the Baby-Friendly standards and ensure that all families have access to the best possible start in life.