Our Lady of the Angels Hospital Reaccredited as Birth Ready+ for Third Consecutive Year

April 10, 2025

Bogalusa, LA - Our Lady of the Angels Hospital has once again earned the esteemed Birth Ready+ designation by the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC), reaffirming its leadership in delivering high-quality, equitable maternity care. This recognition highlights the hospital’s continued dedication to serving families in Washington Parish and surrounding rural communities with compassion and clinical excellence.

Since first receiving the Birth Ready+ designation in 2021, Our Lady of the Angels has consistently met the highest standards in maternal health. The reaccreditation reflects the hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve outcomes and ensure that expectant mothers in rural areas have access to the safest, most advanced care available, close to home.

“Earning the Birth Ready+ designation for the third consecutive year is a testament to the dedication of our entire team,” said Chuck Spicer, Our Lady of the Angels and Our Lady of the Lake Health president. “We are proud to offer families in Washington Parish access to high-quality maternity care delivered with the personal touch and compassion our community deserves.”

To achieve designation, facilities must meet criteria in five dimensions: participation in collaborative learning; health disparity and patient partnership; policies and procedures; structures and education; and outcome and process measures. Hospitals that achieve Birth Ready + Designation have met a higher threshold of compliance and achievement of the requirements.

“This recognition reflects our unwavering mission to support moms and babies at every step of their journey,” said Patsy Welch, RN, BSN, IBCLC, director of labor & delivery, Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. “In rural communities, access to exceptional care close to home can make all the difference, and we’re honored to continue leading the way in improving maternal health outcomes for our region.”

The reaccreditation process involved a rigorous evaluation of the hospital's maternity care practices, including participation in collaborative learning, health disparity, and patient partnership, policies and procedures, structures and education, and outcome and process measures. Our Lady of the Angels Hospital's dedicated team of healthcare professionals collaborated closely to ensure alignment with the highest standards of maternal care, ensuring that expectant mothers receive holistic care tailored to their individual needs.

Our Lady of the Angels Hospital remains dedicated to advancing rural maternity care and improving outcomes for mothers and newborns.

For more information about Our Lady of the Angels Hospital’s maternity care services and its Birth Ready + reaccreditation, please visit oloah.org.