IU Health Bloomington earns AIM Hospital Award for maternity care

Bloomington recently received a 2026 AIM Hospital Award from the Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Hospital Association for its commitment to safe, high-quality care for mothers and babies.

The award recognizes the team’s work through the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM), a national program that helps hospitals improve maternity care using proven safety practices.

“Through AIM, we are strengthening our practices, preparing our team to recognize and respond to high-risk conditions, and helping reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality,” said Cindy Herrington, DNP, FNP, RN, IU Health Bloomington Chief Nursing Officer. “Most importantly, our patients and families benefit from a safer, more reliable experience and the confidence that our team is prepared to provide the very best care.”

Nikki Benich, RN, IU Health Bloomington Perinatal and Pediatric Services Director, shared that AIM participation helps her team:

• Improve patient outcomes
• Reduce preventable maternal complications
• Standardize care delivery
• Advance health equity
• Strengthen the culture of continuous quality improvement

“The recent AIM Award recognized Bloomington's commitment to these efforts and supports continued implementation and sustainability of AIM patient safety bundles,” Benich said.

Herrington said this achievement reflects the team’s commitment to safe, consistent, evidence-based maternity care and to continuously improving outcomes for every mother and baby they serve.

The award includes a $5,000 stipend, which the team plans to use for blood pressure cuffs for patients. Benich explained that high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy are among the leading causes of serious illness and death for mothers in the United States.

“By empowering women to monitor their blood pressure at home, we can identify warning signs earlier, improve access to timely treatment, reduce preventable complications, and support safer pregnancies and postpartum recoveries,” she said.

“Kudos to our incredible team on achieving AIM,” said Herrington. “This is an incredible accomplishment and one we should all be proud of.”