Monday, January 16, 2017

Putnam County Hospital has earned a 4-Star Overall Hospital Quality Rating, based on data collected on Hospital Compare. The ratings for hospital facilities throughout the nation were released to the public in December 2016.

How did Putnam County Hospital earn the 4-Star rating?

The new Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating summarizes data from existing quality measures publicly reported on Hospital Compare, an online tool where consumers can view the quality of facilities, into a single star rating for each hospital.

The data tracks areas such as patients’ experiences, timely and effective care, complications, readmissions and deaths, use of medical imaging, and payment and value of care.

Based on the results of the data, more than 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals are rated on a 5-Star system. Putnam County Hospital is one of only 20 percent out of 4,598 hospitals to earn the 4-Star rating.

Why is the star rating important for consumers and patients?

Think of it as the same process individuals use when looking online at hotels. Most go to a travel site and narrow down their search for the highest-quality hotel room based on its star rating. The star rating for hospital facilities is a similar tool to help consumers and patients choose the highest quality of care.

“It’s very gratifying to have external validation and public knowledge of the quality of care we give to every patient, every time,” Dr. Lisa Martin, a primary care physician with Putnam Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, said. “Our patients can be reassured that they are receiving the very best in healthcare when they walk in our doors.”

Putnam County Hospital is a critical access hospital committed to providing affordable, high-quality healthcare close to home.

For more information about Putnam County Hospital and the expanded services and specialties now being provided, click here to visit Putnam County Hospital.