Bedford Memorial HospitalÕs (BMH) Emergency Department has been awarded the prestigious Press Ganey 2005 Compass Award for outstanding performance improvement.
The award, which comes under the category ÒEmergency Department Less than 30,000 annual visitsÓ, is based on current year scores in comparison to the previous two-year score results. The Compass Award also acknowledges those organizations that demonstrate their commitment to using patient satisfaction data to improve the quality of healthcare. BMH increased its mean score by an impressive 8.51 points.
Three-hundred-eighty-four hospitals are in the Press Ganey ÒLess than 30,000 visitÓ database. And, while three other facilities will receive the 2005 Compass Award in November, BMHÕs Emergency Department was rated #1 among all 384 hospitals.
According to Chris Stiltner, R.N., director of clinical support services, who oversees the emergency department, ÒWe are extremely proud of everyone here in the Emergency Department who helped earn this award. It was truly a team effort, and receiving this prestigious honor is a direct reflection of the dedication and hard work from our doctors and nurses, and the entire team at Bedford Memorial.Ó
BMH president and CEO E.W. Tibbs also praised the hospital emergency department, stating, ÒWhen our patients are that highly satisfied with the care and attention we provide, we know our commitment to care is paying off in better health to the community. This award demonstrates, in one more way, the hard work that each employee gives on a daily basis to make Bedford Memorial such a great hospital of which everyone in the community can be proud.Ó
Press Ganey Associates, Inc., was founded in 1985 to provide information essential to the assessment and enhancement of the healthcare experience. Today, it is the healthcare industryÕs leader in healthcare satisfaction measurement and improvement. Bedford Memorial Hospital has already been participating in Press Ganey patient satisfaction surveys since late 2003. In May 2004, the hospital scored in the top 10th percentile among 1,118 hospitals surveyed.
Georgiann Watts, BMH director of nursing, explained that Press Ganey performs a comprehensive evaluation of care by surveying patients following discharge, stating, ÒThe patient satisfaction survey evaluates physicians, nurses, processes of admission and discharge, procedures and treatments, and overall quality treatments.Ó
For more information about services at Bedford Memorial Hospital, please visit www.bmhva.com
