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Covenant Health’s Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Named in Newsweek’s 2026 List of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals

  • 3 minute read.
  • Last Updated: 5/8/2026

Covenant Health’s Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals for 2026. This national distinction is awarded to hospitals that demonstrate exceptional quality, safety and patient experience in maternity care. The 2026 ranking, developed in partnership with Statista, honors 460 hospitals across the United States that excel in clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and reputation among medical professionals.  

The Newsweek evaluation incorporates multiple data sources, including quality metrics from federal and national organizations, patient experience surveys and a nationwide survey of physicians, nurses and midwives. Hospitals must meet or exceed rigorous performance thresholds to earn a place on the list.  

Six smiling healthcare workers pose in front of a Covenant Health backdrop, holding red, white, and blue pom-poms. Some wear scrubs and others wear black uniforms. They stand close together on a tan carpeted floor.

Proud of Our Team and the Care We Provide 

“We are incredibly proud of our Fort Sanders Regional team for earning national recognition as one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals,” said Debbi Honey, MHA, RN, CPHQ, CENP, FAONL, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Covenant Health. “This honor reflects the exceptional dedication of our nurses, physicians, midwives and care teams who work tirelessly to ensure that every mother and baby receives the highest standard of care. Our team’s commitment to safety, compassion and clinical excellence is truly remarkable.” 

That commitment is felt throughout Fort Sanders Regional. Our teams make a big difference for families across East Tennessee, and our leadership recognizes the importance of that impact. 

“This distinction reflects our longstanding commitment to providing exceptional maternity care, with expertise in managing high-risk pregnancies and complex births,” said Tab Culbertson, chief administrative officer at Fort Sanders Regional. “Our physicians, nurses and care teams deliver highly specialized, compassionate care to support mothers and babies when it matters most. Being named among the nation’s best is a testament to our teams and the trust families place in us during some of life’s most important moments.” 

A Trusted Maternity Care Provider in East Tennessee 

At Fort Sanders Regional, we welcome more than 3,000 babies each year, and we’re honored to be a trusted part of so many families’ stories. We offer comprehensive maternity services that support mothers, newborns and families. From prenatal care, labor and delivery to postpartum support and advanced care for newborns, we are your trusted partner through it all. 

We’re proud to partner with Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital to ensure newborns who need extra support have immediate access to specialized neonatal care. Through this collaboration, your baby is cared for by a dedicated team of neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatologists. They assess your child daily and work together to create a personalized care plan. 

Safety and quality guide everything we do, and our teams are committed to supporting you and your baby every step of the way. Through our partnership, families at Fort Sanders Regional have direct access to the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, equipped to care for very small, premature or critically ill newborns without leaving the region. 

Maternity Care in Your Community 

Our trusted maternity professionals are here to care for you throughout your childbirth journey. Visit our website to learn more about our maternity program and connect with an experienced OB/GYN on our team. 

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