CMS updates data on the Hospital Compare website and on data.medicare.gov to provide patients, families and all stakeholders the information needed to compare the performance of hospitals where they seek medical care. Along with data on quality measures, CMS also updates the Overall Hospital Star Rating.
Paula Ellis, DNP, CARN, NEA-BC, Saint John Chief Executive Officer, said, “Exceptional quality requires an organization-wide effort. Every interaction, process, and procedure must be performed through the lens of quality.”
CMS’s Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating recently recalculated its methodology to reflect a more equitable ranking system. Out of the 3,355 hospitals operating in the U.S., only 455 of them received 5 Star Status. Saint John Hospital was one of the six in the state of Kansas to receive the coveted 5 Star rating.
“The star award is given based on metrics such as mortality, readmission, patient safety and patient experience,” says Roni Griffith RN, BSN, CPHQ, Performance Improvement Director at Saint John. “This superior ranking proves that the communities served by Saint John are receiving the highest quality in patient safety and treatment. The public can rest assured they do not need to leave home to receive excellent health care.”
Griffith adds that after the intensity of the past year due to the pandemic, this recognition is welcoming news, citing that the hospital’s commitment to its mission, along with continued teamwork and progressive protocols and procedures contributed to the five-star ranking.
“We continue to refine the Star Ratings and look forward to an ongoing dialogue with hospitals and patients and their families on how we can provide beneficiaries useful information,” says Seema Verma, CMS Administrator.
Hospital Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html) reports information on quality measures for more than 4,000 hospitals nationwide, including Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers and military hospitals. The website provides information for patients and caregivers on how well hospitals deliver care and encourages hospitals to improve the quality of care provided. Users can compare performance across many common conditions.
As a proven healthcare consumer tool, the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating summarizes data from existing measures on Hospital Compare for each hospital to allow users to easily compare hospital facilities. In addition, with data.medicare.gov, users can explore and download hospital data, as well as data on ambulatory surgical centers, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and some cancer hospitals.
As part of the latest update, CMS posted supporting documents related to the Star Ratings on www.qualitynet.org.