JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Vincent’s Medical Center has been recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program(SM). This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by St. Vincent’s to provide an outstanding patient experience.
“Based on the rigorous standards of our national hospital service performance research, only 20 percent of the hospitals in the nation will be qualified to achieve this distinction,” said Steven D. Wood, Ph.D., executive director of the healthcare division of J.D. Power and Associates. “St. Vincent’s Medical Center is among an elite class of hospitals.”
The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying a random sample of recently discharged patients from St. Vincent’s Medical Center on their perceptions of their hospital stay and comparing the results to the national benchmark established by the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 National Hospital Service Performance Study(SM). The telephone-based research conducted among patients focused on the five key drivers of patient satisfaction with their overall hospital experience. The key drivers were identified in the national study and include dignity and respect; speed and efficiency; comfort; information and communication; and emotional support.
“This is a wonderful affirmation of the caring and devotion of our associates for our patients,” said John Maher, St. Vincent’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Being recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as a distinguished hospital is a reflection of the commitment to our mission and core values when our patients recognize us as among the top 20 percent in the nation for customer service.”
St. Vincent’s notably exceeds the national benchmark study score for overall patient satisfaction. The hospital performs especially well in providing comfort to patients during their stay, particularly on the comfort of the room and doctor’s concern about controlling pain, as well as the concern of the discharge personnel for continued patient recovery and well- being after discharge from the hospital.
St. Vincent’s also performs well relative to the national study in providing treatment to patients with speed and efficiency, receiving high marks from patients on the availability of the doctor, nurses’ performance of their regular duties and the speed and efficiency of the discharge process.
Patients in the survey were also asked to rate their level of trust and confidence in the hospital after their most recent stay. A majority of St. Vincent’s patients indicate they have more or much more trust and confidence in the hospital after their most recent stay. Furthermore, when compared to the national average, overall trust and confidence in the hospital is markedly higher among St. Vincent’s patients than among patients participating in the national study.
“This award is extraordinary for two simple reasons,” said Jeffrey Norman, St. Vincent’s Chief Operating Officer. “First, it is the result of what our patients said about their experiences here so this award is from our patients. Second, it is a symbol of the kind of care associates at St. Vincent’s provide, so this award is about our associates.”
That’s why Maher and Norman were not alone as they accepted the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital trophy during a recent awards ceremony. St. Vincent’s Health System service excellence legends stood with them. Legends are staff members recognized by St. Vincent’s for going above and beyond the routine to make sure patients get the very best care possible each and every day.
“St. Vincent’s Medical Center received this distinction by providing patients with a consistent, positive experience,” said Wood. “At a time when consumers are seeking credible resources to make well-informed decisions, being recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as a Distinguished Hospital enables St. Vincent’s Medical Center and other top-performing hospitals to communicate this outstanding accomplishment effectively in the communities they serve.”
St. Vincent’s Health System includes St. Vincent’s Medical Center, St. Catherine Laboure’ Manor, Consolidated Laboratories, Mobile Mammography, St. Vincent’s Foundation, Advanced Patient Transportation, Seton Pharmacies, Consolidated Pharmacies, and other outpatient healthcare services. St. Vincent’s was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1916 to provide health services to the sick and the poor of North Florida. Today, St. Vincent’s serves more than 25,000 inpatients each year, about 50,000 patients for outpatient surgery and invasive procedures and more than 60,000 people in its Emergency Room. St. Vincent’s Medical Center was recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as a Distinguished Hospital in 2004 for providing “An Outstanding Patient Experience” and was named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in the category of Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2003. St. Vincent’s is a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system with more than 100,000 associates serving in 67 acute care hospitals and dozens of related facilities in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Consistent with its mission to serve all people with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable, Ascension Health provides clinically excellent care with an emphasis on innovation and a focus on transforming the healthcare industry. For more information, visit St. Vincent’s website at http://www.jaxhealth.com/.
St. Vincent’s Health System
CONTACT: Pamela Rittenhouse, St. Vincent’s, +1-904-308-7967, orPager, +1-904-889-0059, or pritt002@jaxhealth.com
Web site: http://www.jaxhealth.com/