BCMH ranks among the TOp 10% Nationwide in patient satisfactioN
According to data recently published by the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA), Braxton County Memorial Hospital, ranks among the top 10% in performance levels nationally and in the state with regard to patient satisfaction. Our local healthcare facility is honored with this prestigious status as a result of a standardized survey instrument conducted through HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems). Although Braxton County Memorial Hospital has monitored patients’ assessments of their care for several years through an internal surveying process; HCAHPS is the first national, standardized survey instrument and data collection methodology to be implemented. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) partnering with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), developed the HCAHPS survey which is designed to enable valid comparisons between all reporting hospitals.
During an educational session on October 27, 2008, the Board of Directors of Braxton County Memorial Hospital was presented with detailed material highlighting patient satisfaction indicators as reflected by CMS reports. Administrator, Ben Vincent, comments, “The friendly, down-home atmosphere at BCMH is recognized locally. Our mission of ‘Caring for you close to home’ implies that our patients receive compassionate care only minutes away and provided by their own friends and neighbors.” Vincent adds, “It is very rewarding to know that on state and national standards, Braxton County Memorial Hospital is ahead of the pack.”
Focusing on patient satisfaction, ten of twenty-five categories have been published on the Hospital Compare website, accessible at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. This information allows objective and beneficial comparisons of hospitals on topics important to patients, creates new incentives for hospitals to improve quality of care and enhances public accountability in health care. Sharon Gaston, Assistant Administrator - Operations, states, “According to the published reports compiled from 2007 data, BCMH rates excellent in overall patient satisfaction with an impressive number of patients recommending our hospital to their friends and family.” She adds, “Although the statistics serve to enlighten us regarding some areas needing improvement, we are very gratified with the overall results.” The published data also indicates that of twenty-eight hospitals reporting in WV, Braxton County Memorial Hospital places 1st and 2nd in five of the ten categories.
The staff of Braxton County Memorial Hospital wish to extend their appreciation to those patients who took time to complete their twenty-five question survey following their discharge from the hospital. We continue to be sincerely grateful for the privilege of providing healthcare to our community as your local, independent, not-for-profit hospital.
