February 04, 2020
CMS UPDATES HOSPITAL STAR RATINGS
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Receives 5-Star Rating
Foley, Alabama (January, 29, 2020) – The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released updated Medicare overall hospital quality star ratings on its Hospital Compare website. South Baldwin Regional Medical Center was the only area hospital to receive a 5-star rating, the highest a facility can receive.
The Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were first published in July 2016, when CMS, along with key stakeholders, developed the methodology to calculate and display overall hospital-level quality using a star rating system. This was done to make it easier to use and understand the information posted on Hospital Compare, a website designed for consumers to use along with their healthcare provider to make decisions on where to receive care.
“This multi-year journey is a credit to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the entire South Baldwin Regional Medical Center team,” states Dr. Craig Brown, Chief of Staff for SBRMC. “This is no easy task with less than 10% of hospitals in the nation and only one of six in the state of Alabama receiving the 5-star designation. The entire team is to be commended.”
Several standards were improved at the hospital for it to move from 3-star to 5-star. Timeliness of care was improved through the facility’s 30-minute ER service pledge and the admissions process was made more efficient. Through a collaborative effort with non-hospital health care providers and Long Term Care facilities, re-admission rates have decreased. Additionally, hourly rounding on patients by hospital staff and offering bed-side shift reports have increased the satisfaction of patients.
“The Star Ratings Program is great in that is makes it easier for the consumer to make informed decisions regarding the hospital they choose for care,” states Daniel McKinney, CEO of South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. “The high quality care SBRMC offers is a team effort between the entire hospital staff and our physicians and I could not be more proud of the way our patients are cared for.”
Hospital Compare presents information on more than 50 quality measures at over 5,000 hospitals and the star ratings scores are updated on a bi-annual basis on the Hospital Compare website. Quality measures are related to mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and efficient use of medical imaging for common conditions that hospitals treat.
About South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center is a 112 bed, acute care hospital and has a network of primary care and specialty medical clinics serving Baldwin County. A dedicated and experienced medical staff offers over 32 medical specialties and the hospital offers services ranging from Baldwin County’s only Primary Stroke Center, as well as Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Centers, a Women’s Imaging Center featuring 3D HD Mammography, orthopaedic center for joint replacement and fracture care, 24-hour emergency department and a 24-hour urgent care & imaging center in Gulf Shores.
The hospital has received numerous awards and recognition, including 5-Star rating by CMS, a continuous ‘A’ Safety Grade by Leapfrog Group, Top 9 Hospitals for Infection Prevention by Consumer Reports, American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Gold and Silver awards, and The Joint Commission’s Top Performer on Key Quality Measures. For more information, call (251) 949-3475 or visit SouthBaldwinRMC.com.
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Receives 5-Star Rating
Foley, Alabama (January, 29, 2020) – The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released updated Medicare overall hospital quality star ratings on its Hospital Compare website. South Baldwin Regional Medical Center was the only area hospital to receive a 5-star rating, the highest a facility can receive.
The Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were first published in July 2016, when CMS, along with key stakeholders, developed the methodology to calculate and display overall hospital-level quality using a star rating system. This was done to make it easier to use and understand the information posted on Hospital Compare, a website designed for consumers to use along with their healthcare provider to make decisions on where to receive care.
“This multi-year journey is a credit to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the entire South Baldwin Regional Medical Center team,” states Dr. Craig Brown, Chief of Staff for SBRMC. “This is no easy task with less than 10% of hospitals in the nation and only one of six in the state of Alabama receiving the 5-star designation. The entire team is to be commended.”
Several standards were improved at the hospital for it to move from 3-star to 5-star. Timeliness of care was improved through the facility’s 30-minute ER service pledge and the admissions process was made more efficient. Through a collaborative effort with non-hospital health care providers and Long Term Care facilities, re-admission rates have decreased. Additionally, hourly rounding on patients by hospital staff and offering bed-side shift reports have increased the satisfaction of patients.
“The Star Ratings Program is great in that is makes it easier for the consumer to make informed decisions regarding the hospital they choose for care,” states Daniel McKinney, CEO of South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. “The high quality care SBRMC offers is a team effort between the entire hospital staff and our physicians and I could not be more proud of the way our patients are cared for.”
Hospital Compare presents information on more than 50 quality measures at over 5,000 hospitals and the star ratings scores are updated on a bi-annual basis on the Hospital Compare website. Quality measures are related to mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and efficient use of medical imaging for common conditions that hospitals treat.
About South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center is a 112 bed, acute care hospital and has a network of primary care and specialty medical clinics serving Baldwin County. A dedicated and experienced medical staff offers over 32 medical specialties and the hospital offers services ranging from Baldwin County’s only Primary Stroke Center, as well as Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Centers, a Women’s Imaging Center featuring 3D HD Mammography, orthopaedic center for joint replacement and fracture care, 24-hour emergency department and a 24-hour urgent care & imaging center in Gulf Shores.
The hospital has received numerous awards and recognition, including 5-Star rating by CMS, a continuous ‘A’ Safety Grade by Leapfrog Group, Top 9 Hospitals for Infection Prevention by Consumer Reports, American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Gold and Silver awards, and The Joint Commission’s Top Performer on Key Quality Measures. For more information, call (251) 949-3475 or visit SouthBaldwinRMC.com.
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Contact:
Hayden Kaechele, Marketing Director
hayden_kaechele@chs.net, (251) 949-3475
