Windber Medical Center (WMC) is the recipient of the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for 2011. This distinctive award places WMC within the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for exemplary service to patients. Out of 3,797 hospitals in the country, only 8 hospitals within Pennsylvania were recognized for their service. Windber Medical Center is the only hospital in western Pennsylvania to receive the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for 2011.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award based on our patients’ perceptions. Exemplary care is a hallmark within our Planetree, patient-centered care hospital. I am very proud of the staff and physicians at Windber Medical Center for making this affirmation of excellence in patient-care possible,” said Barbara Cliff, president and CEO.
As the only Planetree designated facility in Pennsylvania, Windber Medical Center maintains a high standard for patient-centered care by focusing on healing and nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Patient-centered care is not just something they do, but who they are. They embrace the concepts that a warm, sensitive, healing environment is essential to the patient; wellness and prevention are just as essential as treating the ailment; the patient is involved in his or her care; and the family is an important part of that care.
The Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ is based on a survey of patients’ hospital experiences conducted by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS: a national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care). The survey is based on ten core measures: overall rating, recommendation to family /friends, communication with doctors, communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge information, cleanliness, and quietness. Studies demonstrate that patient satisfaction ratings do make a difference. 74% say they looked for quality or satisfaction ratings. Poor service also drives their decisions. 2 in 3 reported they have switched because they were dissatisfied with the service they received. (Source: Deloittee 2009 Survey of Health Care Consumers: Key Findings, Strategic Implications).
Windber Medical Center’s scores are consistently higher than other hospitals in their geographic region, higher than the Pennsylvania average and higher than the national average. “I am very proud of the hospital and the staff for the care that is delivered to our patients. The HCAHPS survey process allows us another opportunity to tell everyone what makes us special and unique – how much our patients mean to us and our excellent ability to care for them.” said John (Ted) Hollern, Chairman of Windber Medical Center’s Board of directors. Windber Medical Center is pleased to see all their hard work being recognized and would like to thank of all the patients and staff that made this award possible. To find out more about Windber Medical Center’s Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ and the ratings methodology, it is now available free to the public at www.HealthGrades.com.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
