USA Today says Sacred Heart Hospital ranks near the top of the state in terms of childbirth complications. The national rate for severe childbirth-related complications or deaths is about 1.3 percent, Florida’s rate is 1.4 percent, but Sacred Heart’s rate is 3.2 percent. However, the hospital points out that Sacred Heart is one of only 13 Peri-natal Intensive Care Centers in Florida and they often get high-risk pregnancies. The hospital delivers about 4,000 babies a year and has experienced no maternal deaths in more than five years. Dr. Joseph Peterson, assistant director of the OB/GYN Residency program, said Sacred Heat has a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in the hospital 24 hours a day.