Lakewood Health System was one of 251 hospitals in the nation, and one of 12 hospitals in the state of Minnesota, to earn a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This new five-star rating system was recently implemented in order to help consumers compare the quality of healthcare providers.
Ratings were based on an average of hospitals’ performance on the publicly reported measures from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The HCAHPS survey evaluates patients’ experiences at the facilities.
The survey asks patients to respond to statements regarding how well doctors and nurses communicated, the responsiveness of hospital staff to their needs, and whether they would recommend the hospital to others. It also asks about cleanliness and quietness of the facility.
“This rating could not be achieved without great employees and providers who are passionate about what they do,” said President and CEO Tim Rice. “They are always focused on the patients and continually looking at how to do things better. We are so fortunate to have such a talented team.”
The surveys are sent to a random sampling of patients within two days of discharge from a hospital, and must be completed within 42 days. Initial ratings were based on responses gathered between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014.