June 24, 2025
MEDIA CONTACTS: Heather Kretzer External Communications Specialist
Phone: 850-832-0406
Email: Heather.Kretzer@ascension.org
MEDIA CONTACTS: Heather Kretzer External Communications Specialist
Phone: 850-832-0406
Email: Heather.Kretzer@ascension.org
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is expanding its award-winning maternity care
Partnership with OB Hospitalist Group aims to improve the health of mothers and babies
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is expanding its maternity services at The Family Birth Place through a partnership with OB Hospitalist Group, OBHG. As the only NICU close to home for families living in Walton and Okaloosa counties, Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is renowned for its award-winning maternity care.
“As one of the fastest growing counties in the country, we have a high demand for OB-GYN services,” said Trey Abshier, President of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “This partnership will help us to meet the growing needs of mothers and babies in our community while continuing to provide the high-quality care our patients and their families are accustomed to.”
OB hospitalists care for pregnant women while they’re in the hospital and their obstetrician isn’t available. These specialized clinicians do not replace the care patients receive from their regular OB-GYN physician. Instead, they serve as an extension of the patient’s regular doctor and the high-quality care that their doctor provides.
“No matter what time you or your unborn baby may need care, OBHG hospitalists add an extra layer of safety for emergency deliveries and complications before or after childbirth,” said Dr. Deborah Edgeworth, medical director for OBHG at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast will also partner with OBHG to provide an OB ER, ensuring timely evaluation and intervention for emergencies like abdominal pain, bleeding, contractions and high blood pressure. The goals of the program include reducing ER wait times for expecting mothers, increasing patient safety and improving outcomes.
Together we will continue our strong commitment to the health of mothers, babies and their families by partnering with OBHG on quality improvement projects inside and outside of the hospital," said Erica Bottom, director of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Family Birth Place.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast initiatives and recognitions for women’s and children’s health show our strong support for families in our community and include:
● Participation in the State’s first postpartum wristband initiative that helps prioritize new mothers as patients and spotlight their medical history when they seek care through EMS, ERs or other medical sites.
● Earning a spot on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals at the highest five ribbon level.
● The distinction of being a U.S. News & World Report 2025 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care and being recognized as a Maternity Care Access Hospital for our essential role in serving underserved communities at risk of becoming maternity care deserts.
● Being a Maternal Levels of Care verified hospital by The Joint Commission.
● Sacred Heart Emerald Coast’s Baby-Friendly designation in recognition of our commitment to the highest level of breastfeeding support and education.
To learn more visit SacredHeartBaby.com.
About Ascension Florida
In Florida, Ascension operates Ascension Sacred Heart based in Pensacola and Ascension St. Vincent’s based in Jacksonville. Together, Ascension Florida operates nine hospitals and more than 190 other sites of care and employs more than 12,000 associates. Across the region, Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension St. Vincent’s have served North Florida communities for more than 165 years. In fiscal year 2024, they provided more than $395 million in community benefit and other care for vulnerable persons.
About OB Hospitalist Group
Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) is the nation’s largest and only dedicated provider of customized women’s health solutions, focused on improving access to care and ensuring all women receive timely, unconditional obstetric care. Our team partners with hospitals across the nation to improve maternal safety and outcomes and reduce physician burnout. As part of our dedicated women’s health focus, we ensure that every pregnant woman presenting to labor and delivery with unscheduled medical needs receives timely, expert care from a skilled clinician. Our 1,500+ clinicians partner closely with local OB/GYN physicians, providing collaborative, non-competitive support. Together, we deliver great patient care and clinicians passionate about their role in caring for pregnant women. OBHG is headquartered in Greenville, SC. For more information, visit www.OBHG.com.
“As one of the fastest growing counties in the country, we have a high demand for OB-GYN services,” said Trey Abshier, President of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “This partnership will help us to meet the growing needs of mothers and babies in our community while continuing to provide the high-quality care our patients and their families are accustomed to.”
OB hospitalists care for pregnant women while they’re in the hospital and their obstetrician isn’t available. These specialized clinicians do not replace the care patients receive from their regular OB-GYN physician. Instead, they serve as an extension of the patient’s regular doctor and the high-quality care that their doctor provides.
“No matter what time you or your unborn baby may need care, OBHG hospitalists add an extra layer of safety for emergency deliveries and complications before or after childbirth,” said Dr. Deborah Edgeworth, medical director for OBHG at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast will also partner with OBHG to provide an OB ER, ensuring timely evaluation and intervention for emergencies like abdominal pain, bleeding, contractions and high blood pressure. The goals of the program include reducing ER wait times for expecting mothers, increasing patient safety and improving outcomes.
Together we will continue our strong commitment to the health of mothers, babies and their families by partnering with OBHG on quality improvement projects inside and outside of the hospital," said Erica Bottom, director of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Family Birth Place.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast initiatives and recognitions for women’s and children’s health show our strong support for families in our community and include:
● Participation in the State’s first postpartum wristband initiative that helps prioritize new mothers as patients and spotlight their medical history when they seek care through EMS, ERs or other medical sites.
● Earning a spot on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals at the highest five ribbon level.
● The distinction of being a U.S. News & World Report 2025 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care and being recognized as a Maternity Care Access Hospital for our essential role in serving underserved communities at risk of becoming maternity care deserts.
● Being a Maternal Levels of Care verified hospital by The Joint Commission.
● Sacred Heart Emerald Coast’s Baby-Friendly designation in recognition of our commitment to the highest level of breastfeeding support and education.
To learn more visit SacredHeartBaby.com.
About Ascension Florida
In Florida, Ascension operates Ascension Sacred Heart based in Pensacola and Ascension St. Vincent’s based in Jacksonville. Together, Ascension Florida operates nine hospitals and more than 190 other sites of care and employs more than 12,000 associates. Across the region, Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension St. Vincent’s have served North Florida communities for more than 165 years. In fiscal year 2024, they provided more than $395 million in community benefit and other care for vulnerable persons.
About OB Hospitalist Group
Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) is the nation’s largest and only dedicated provider of customized women’s health solutions, focused on improving access to care and ensuring all women receive timely, unconditional obstetric care. Our team partners with hospitals across the nation to improve maternal safety and outcomes and reduce physician burnout. As part of our dedicated women’s health focus, we ensure that every pregnant woman presenting to labor and delivery with unscheduled medical needs receives timely, expert care from a skilled clinician. Our 1,500+ clinicians partner closely with local OB/GYN physicians, providing collaborative, non-competitive support. Together, we deliver great patient care and clinicians passionate about their role in caring for pregnant women. OBHG is headquartered in Greenville, SC. For more information, visit www.OBHG.com.
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