5 Star Rating for Patient Care Transitions!
Veterans Memorial Hospital was recently notified of its 5 Star Rating for Patient Care Transitions, making it one of the 189 top hospitals for Care Transitions in the United States. This is awarded according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) results from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). HCAHPS is a national, standardized survey used by most hospitals, including Veterans Memorial Hospital, for hospital patients to rate their experiences during a recent inpatient hospital stay.
The primary CMS measurement for Care Transitions in hospitals assesses how well patients feel prepared for discharge from the hospital. This includes these three key areas: whether patient and family’s preferences were accounted for in the care plan, whether patients understood their role in self-management after discharge, and whether appropriate medication education was provided
Of the 189 top hospitals for Care Transitions in the United States, there were nine total hospitals in the state of Iowa that also received this designation, including VA Central Iowa Healthcare System (Des Moines), Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion, Jones Regional Medical Center (Anamosa), Veterans Memorial Hospital (Waukon), Regional Medical Center (Manchester), Orange City Area Health System, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (Storm Lake).
“Patient transitions is an essential part of the overall patient experience, including areas such as patient preferences while at the hospital, medications, and overall ability to transition to their next stage of care or future living arrangements,” explains Michael Coyle, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital. “It’s crucial for the patient and the patient’s family to be involved in this process to ensure patient-centered care. Our staff does an amazing job of incorporating the patient and family in decision-making.”
Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages patients to continue to fill out and submit the surveys they received following their hospital stay. “Filling out patient HCAHPS surveys is more than just feedback—it’s a vital tool for measuring the quality of care we provide,” states Bailey Estebo, Assistant CNO who coordinates the patient surveys and results. “Every response helps us understand our strengths, recognize areas for improvement, and ultimately, deliver the best care possible to those who rely on us.”
For any additional information or questions, please contact Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
