LINCOLN – Nebraska hospitals are investing time, technology, and resources into securing and advancing maternal health care, according to the Nebraska Hospital Association’s (NHA) recently released 2026 Community Impact Report.

As maternal health care access faces challenges nationally, Nebraska hospitals are proactively stepping up to ensure expecting and new mothers receive top-tier care, no matter their ZIP code.

 "Safe and high-quality maternal and postpartum care is one of our most important priorities for the communities we serve," said Jeremy Nordquist, President and CEO of the Nebraska Hospital Association. "From implementing life-saving technologies to launching digital support applications, Nebraska hospitals are proving that innovation and local care go hand in hand."

 Through targeted strategies focusing on retaining and growing obstetrics services, enhancing clinical capabilities, and launching community support programs, hospitals across the state are building a safer environment for growing families.

The 2026 Community Impact Report features several stories illustrating how Nebraska hospitals are making a measurable difference. Following a historic, record-breaking year with 289 deliveries in 2025, Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center in Beatrice, Nebraska is actively expanding its maternal care workforce. To meet growing community needs and ensure long-term service sustainability, the hospital is currently recruiting a fourth OB-GYN to join its dedicated team.

Demonstrating a deep commitment to rural access, Brodstone Healthcare in Superior recently opened a new labor and delivery wing. To further elevate patient safety, the hospital implemented the JADA system, an advanced medical tool designed to rapidly control postpartum bleeding and prevent maternal mortality.

Championing technology and postpartum support, Bryan Health and Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln launched the Bryan Baby mobile app alongside an online screening tool for postpartum depression. Bryan also introduced a specialized postpartum wristband program to further protect mothers after they leave the hospital. Given to patients at discharge, these colored silicone wristbands alert emergency responders and external medical providers to recent childbirth, ensuring urgent conditions are immediately recognized and treated. Additionally, they have deployed NICU telemedicine behavioral health services to quickly catch maternal health crises and connect mothers to resources.

Grand Island Regional Medical Center in Grand Island is serving as a critical regional resource. This Level II NICU facility provides extensive community support programs, including breastfeeding assistance, childbirth education, and prenatal support groups. They actively collaborate on perinatal quality improvement projects through the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC) and various local community partners to bridge care gaps.

 By addressing maternal health from prenatal education through the critical postpartum window, Nebraska’s hospitals are ensuring that the state remains a safe, supportive place to welcome new life,” said Nordquist.

For more details or to read the full 2026 Community Impact Report, please visit https://www.nebraskahospitals.org/advocacy/community-impact.

 About Us: The Nebraska Hospital Association is the trusted and unified voice of Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems. The NHA has a statewide membership of 92 member hospitals and more than 55,000 employees. Through collaborative leadership, our members rely on the NHA for advocacy, data, education, and more to advance Nebraska hospitals’ ability to provide exceptional, quality care to Nebraska’s patients and communities. The NHA has been a vital part of our member hospitals’ missions since our founding in 1927.

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