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ST. GEORGE — The hospitals in St. George and Cedar City have gained national recognition and are the only Utah facilities to make a prestigious list.
U.S. News & World Report, known for its annual best hospitals list, has released its first list of top maternity care access hospitals in the nation. Both St. George Regional Hospital and Cedar City Hospital are the only two Utah hospitals among the 73 hospitals on the list.
In its announcement, the U.S. News publishers noted the growing number of "maternity care deserts," especially in rural areas.
At least 89 obstetric units closed in rural hospitals between 2015 and 2019, according to the American Hospital Association. By 2020, half of the hospitals in rural communities offered obstetric services like prenatal, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
