Western Baptist Hospital is one of 356 hospitals nationwide recognized by WomenCertified as the "Best Hospitals for Patient Experience in Obstetrics." The obstetrics award is for 2013. Baptist was recognized by the same organization in 2011 and 2012 among "America's Best Hospitals for Patient Experience." "This award recognizes quality and compassionate care by our staff, who strives to treat each family as if they are part of our own family," said Larry Barton, Western Baptist president and CEO. "We are honored by the recognition, as well as by the families who choose to share their once-in-a-lifetime experience with us." Maternal Child Services director Lisa Parnell, R.N., said hospital staff is dedicated to patient satisfaction. "We are patient-centered," Parnell said. "Our nurses receive specialized education for high-risk cases in the NICU, and we also provide education for all parents in the care of their new baby." WomenCertified helps women identify businesses that value the customer experience and appreciate female consumer needs. Its scoring process is unique in that it is the only national list that focuses on female patient satisfaction. Winners were chosen based on exceptional patient recommendation scores and multiple clinical considerations, such as rates of infection or serious complications. More babies are born each year at Western Baptist than at all other western Kentucky hospitals combined, numbering more than 70,000 since it opened in 1953, according to a hospital news release. It has the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in western Kentucky.