Elkin, NC- January 3, 2022 – Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital is in the top 10% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals for patient safety in safe surgery practices and lower rates for complications and infections.
Healthcare has made significant strides in patient safety in recent years. Hospital-acquired conditions have declined resulting in fewer patient deaths according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Hospital-acquired conditions are conditions that a patient develops while in the hospital being treated for something else.
“Not all hospitals can say they are the safest in the country, and by identifying those who are, the Women’s Choice Award is helping the female consumer identify the hospitals in her community that are dedicated to creating the safest patient experience,” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award.
The methodology used to select Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety is unique in that it evaluates 12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) measures of infections and complications, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in patient safety based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
“The recipients of the America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety award have led the country by implementing safe practices that have ultimately saved lives,” said Passi. “This recognition is critical for women as they make over 80% of healthcare decisions and need to know they are putting themselves—and their family members—in the safest hands.”
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital is one of 305 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for patient safety in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award. “This award is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the families within our community. We could not have achieved this exceptional recognition without the hard work, support, and ongoing commitment from each of our team members,” said Paul Hammes, CEO of Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital.
For more information about the America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals-for-patient-safety
Elkin, NC – January 10, 2022 – Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital has been named one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital is in the top 10% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering stroke care services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60% of stroke deaths, a “brain attack,” are in women, and stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Most alarming, studies show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed for stroke even with the same symptoms present as men.
“Timely diagnosis and effective care are critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery. The time to identify your community’s leading hospital for stroke care is right now, not in the middle of a medical emergency when every minute is precious,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “We congratulate these hospitals and their dedication to education, prevention, and early intervention to reduce the devastating effects of stroke.”
America’s Best Stroke Centers are hospitals that hold a Stroke Center Certification, recognizing centers that meet high standards for stroke care as determined by the Joint Commission (JC) and/or Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Credit is given for certifications on a scale based on the degree of care available to the stroke patient.
It is the only award recognizing excellence in stroke care based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The methodology used to select Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers is unique in that it evaluates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.
Hospitals that meet the stroke center certification requirement, must then meet or exceed the following performance measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals must also score in the top 80% of all hospitals in the percent of patients receiving Head CT scan results within 45 minutes, and cannot have received a rating of Worse than the National Rate for the Deaths from Serious Treatable Complications measure.
“Getting top care within the first three hours of a stroke is critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery” says Passi. “Our award educates women about where they—and their loved ones—have the best chance to return to a full life following a stroke.”
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital is one of 471 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for stroke care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.
For more information on the America’s Best Stroke Centers, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-stroke-centers
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ABOUT Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital (www.hughchatham.org) is a not-for-profit community health care network of physician clinics and an 81-bed acute care hospital that delivers high quality, convenient health care to residents of the Yadkin Valley and Foothills region of North Carolina and parts of southwestern Virginia. Employing more than 900 team members, Hugh Chatham includes a medical group of more than 68 providers across 24 locations and six counties. Headquartered in Elkin, North Carolina, Hugh Chatham is a leader in using technology to coordinate care for patients and to make healthcare more accessible, and cost-effective.
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ABOUT THE WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD®
The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that includes relevant clinical performance, patient satisfaction and appropriate accreditations. The Best Hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being. The Women’s Choice Award is the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. Visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more.
The information contained in this release is not permitted to be used in a non-press related context without the express prior written consent of the Women’s Choice Award.
