Community Hospital Honored as PRC Four- and Five-Star Hospital

Community Hospital was named as a 2009 PRC 4-Star & 5-Star Customer Service Hospital in inpatient services and emergency room services for Patient Perception at an awards luncheon held at the New Orleans Marriott. Hospital leaders from across the United States, including five employees from Community Hospital, gathered here to participate in the 2009 PRC Client Education Conference hosted by Professional Research Consultants, Inc.

Community Hospital received the following awards:

• 5-Star: Emergency Department—Overall Quality of Care
• 4-Star: Inpatient Services—Overall Quality of Care

The patient survey was conducted to obtain the opinions of Community Hospital patients via telephone for a confidential interview. The patient survey assessed patient perceptions of the overall care they received. The research findings were then presented to the hospital to use in continuous improvement and enhancement of employee and patient satisfaction.

"We are so proud of Community Hospital and are thrilled to present them with these National Excellence in Healthcare Awards," said Joe M. Inguanzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of Professional Research Consultants. "They are truly dedicated to making their organization a better place for patients to be treated. McCook,Nebraska and the surrounding area should be proud of Community Hospital.”

The 5-Star award designation is given annually to healthcare facilities that score in the top ten percent (i.e., at or above the 90 percentile) of PRC’s national client database for the prior calendar year. It is based on the percentage of hospital patients who rate the facility “excellent” for the Overall Quality of Care question. The 4-Star Award designation is given annually to any healthcare facility that scores in the top twenty-five percent of PRC’s national client database for the prior calendar year.

Community Hospital employees who attended the conference enjoyed a variety of sessions on improving customer service excellence and increasing patient loyalty. They are now assisting the Community Hospital Loyalty Team, comprised of hospital employees and community members in implementing new initiatives.

PRC is a nationally-known healthcare marketing research company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The company is in its 29th year of providing marketing research for hospitals across the United States. Company information can be found on their corporate website, www.PRConline.com.