Chickasaw Nation perinatal program earns Gold Spotlight Award for second consecutive year

The Chickasaw Nation Medical Center’s (CNMC) perinatal program has received the Gold Level Spotlight Hospital Award from the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC) for the second year in a row, placing it among the top birthing hospitals in the state.

The award places the Chickasaw Nation among a small group of Oklahoma birthing hospitals demonstrating exceptional commitment to evidence-based, high-quality care for mothers, babies and families.

“This award is reserved for birthing facilities in Oklahoma that have displayed an exceptional commitment to perinatal quality,” Ashley Kreis, director of obstetrical services for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, said. “Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to our families, and this award highlights all that we do each day to fulfill our mission.”

The recognition applies broadly to the Chickasaw Nation’s perinatal program, which includes prenatal, postpartum and newborn care services — a reflection of the compassionate, comprehensive approach the Chickasaw Nation takes to support new families.

Launched in 2014, OPQIC brings together hospitals and health care partners across the state to improve outcomes for women and infants through evidence-based practices. The collaborative focuses on programs like TeamBirth, an industry-standard method to improve communication throughout the birthing process for patients, families and care teams, and OK-MAMA, an Oklahoma-based maternal addiction and mental health assistance program.

The Chickasaw Nation’s obstetric leadership team works closely with OPQIC to carry out statewide quality initiatives and track progress. Kreis said the Chickasaw Nation’s continued success reflects a broader organizational commitment to excellence.

“The programs and initiatives that are considered for the spotlight award are not all required, but our organization seizes every opportunity to participate in valuable initiatives that will lead to improved health outcomes for our people,” she said.

Several accomplishments contributed to the 2025 Gold Level designation. In the past year, the CNMC maintained its Baby-Friendly designation and a Gold Level Safe Sleep Certification through Cribs for Kids. It also received national recognition as a TeamBirth facility.

“We will continue to focus on providing equitable and respectful care to all birthing families, utilizing effective communication tools and models like TeamBirth to place the patient and family at the center of our care,” Kreis said.

The perinatal team also made significant improvements to its newborn screening process in 2025 by providing education and support aimed at reducing unsatisfactory specimens sent to the state lab. Those efforts helped Oklahoma meet its benchmark of fewer than 2% unsatisfactory newborn screening samples.

Consistency and quality across perinatal services are maintained through an interdisciplinary approach, Kreis said.

“A committee organized to focus on perinatal safety meets regularly to review our practice guidelines, patient feedback and outcome measures,” Kreis said. “Utilizing shared decision-making, we develop and adjust our practices to meet the highest-level quality standards while providing positive patient experiences.”

The award was presented during the annual OPQIC Summit, hosted in conjunction with the Oklahoma Hospital Association’s conference Nov. 18, 2025. The event brings together representatives from birthing hospitals across the state to celebrate progress and share strategies to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Looking ahead, Kreis said the team remains focused on providing equitable, respectful care for all birthing families while working to improve maternal and newborn health.

“We are honored to be part of history in making strides to address the maternal and neonatal health crisis in our country,” she said.

For Chickasaw and other First American families, Kreis hopes the recognition brings reassurance.

“We want you to feel confident, reassured and welcomed when you choose to share your birth experience with us. This award is a symbol of our unending commitment to the highest quality of care and how our patients and families are at the center of all that we do,” Kreis said.

For more information about the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, visit ChickasawNationHealth.net.