Since partnering with Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) in October 2023, California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) has made remarkable strides in maternal and newborn care.
In less than two years, CHMC earned its first-ever Banner of Excellence (BOE) designation from CommonSpirit Health, recognizing measurable and sustained improvement across key maternal and newborn care metrics. This milestone reflects the hospital’s dedication to clinical excellence and high-quality patient care.
Building a program from the ground up
OBHG Site Director Dr. Chasity Jennings-Nunez joined CHMC’s medical staff in March 2024. What she inherited was a team in transition: physicians new to the hospital working alongside members of the prior OB hospitalist group. Creating cohesion wasn’t optional — it was foundational.
“I was able to build a collegial program that functioned well to provide excellent care,” said Dr. Jennings-Nunez. “It is very rewarding for all involved when hard work receives recognition.”
That hard work paid off. CHMC met performance goals across at least six CommonSpirit measures to earn the Bronze designation — including benchmarks tied to maternal hypertension and hemorrhage management, severe maternal morbidity, perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) screening, low-risk C-section rates, and patient experience.
Recognition that carries weight
The COE designation is awarded through CommonSpirit’s Women’s and Infants Service Line (WISL), a national quality body that sets perinatal safety standards across more than 70 CommonSpirit facilities. The program’s goal: reduce maternal and neonatal adverse events by improving patient safety culture system-wide.
Dr. Jennings-Nunez was asked to join the WISL council in early 2025 as the Southern California Market Regional Physician Lead — a role that reflects both her clinical leadership at CHMC and her growing influence across the CommonSpirit system. She also assumed the role of Department Chair, OB/GYN at CHMC effective January 1, 2025.
The Bronze designation marks CHMC’s first COE recognition in the program’s history. It also stands as a testament to what’s possible when a committed OB hospitalist team, integrated from day one into the fabric of a hospital’s quality culture, is given the space to lead.