FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services Receive the 2024 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics and Orthopedics!
Gibson City, IL, 1/19/2024 –
The Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare, has named Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services (GAHHS) one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics and Orthopedics. These awards signify that Gibson Area Hospital has been ranked within the top 10% of hospitals of similar size based on the number of beds, of which there were four categories, and has met the highest standards for patient experience in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.
Orthopedics:
GAHHS has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics by the Women’s Choice Award®. This award signifies that Gibson Area Hospital is in the top 6% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering orthopedics services and has the highest standards for orthopedics care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.
In a national survey conducted by the Women’s Choice Award, female orthopedic patients identified the following key priorities when choosing a hospital for orthopedics:
- Single source for orthopedic services
- Solid patient safety record
- High recommendation ratings
“Women have different orthopedic needs, particularly as they grow older and become more at risk for osteoporosis, arthritis, and fractures. They are also staying active much longer,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “Being treated with the proper level of care impacts one’s health, well-being, and healing, so it is critical for women to know those hospitals that have demonstrated the highest level of quality care for their patient’s bone health, with a special focus on the needs and preferences of women. We are the only award that recognizes a hospital’s ability to meet women’s distinctive needs.”
The methodology used to select GAHHS as one of the Best Hospitals for Orthopedics is unique in that it evaluates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. Award recipients are also measured on their incidence of surgical complications and infections, including:
- A wound that splits open after surgery
- Accidental cuts and tears
- Deaths from serious treatable complications
- Rate of complications for knee or hip replacement patients
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections
A hospital must have arthroscopy, joint replacement, and spine surgery orthopedic services available to patients, onsite physical therapy, and an MRI to qualify for the award. It is the only award recognizing excellence in orthopedics based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
GAHHS is one of 316 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for orthopedics care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.
Obstetrics:
In addition, the Women’s Choice Award® has named GAHHS as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics. The award signifies that Gibson Area Hospital is in the top 4.9% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering obstetrics and has met the highest standards for obstetrics across the U.S.
The Women’s Choice Award educates all women on where to receive the best care and focuses its research on hospitals that provide the highest quality patient experience, especially important for potential labor complications.
“Having a baby is one of the most precious times in a woman’s life,” said Delia Passi founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “New moms have many choices to make when it comes to having their baby, and choosing where to deliver the baby is right up there with choosing the best doctor. We’ve made it easy for her to identify the best hospitals that are proven to deliver an outstanding experience.”
The methodology for the Best Hospitals for Obstetrics is unique in that it combines national accreditations, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results, and hospital outcome scores with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in obstetric services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
The Best Hospitals for Obstetrics award considers the following specific criteria (all are not required):
- The percentage of patients reporting through the HCAHPS survey that they would recommend the hospital
- Patient safety ranking based on 13 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates
- Low rates of early elective deliveries (between 0-1%)
- Baby-Friendly USA designation, a World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) initiative to support best practices for breastfeeding education and counseling
- Level III and Level IV neonatal intensive care (NICU) designations to provide comprehensive care for the most complex and critically ill newborns.
“Our award gives a woman the confidence that her choice of a hospital for her delivery will be the best in terms of quality care and patient safety for her and her baby. As the trend of women waiting longer to start their families continues, having the Women’s Choice Award seal is especially important for older moms who face increased risk and need a top hospital to provide care for her and her newborn” says Passi.
GAHHS is one of 682 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for obstetrics across the U.S.
“Gibson Area Hospital (GAH) is pleased to once again, receive not one, but two Women’s Choice Awards! GAH continues to be a leader in the healthcare industry, both locally and nationally as the largest Critical Access Hospital in Illinois and among the largest in the Nation. GAH is nationally recognized for the excellent patient care we provide by organizations like Women’s Choice. The hard work is a reflection of the amazing people and great things that go on at GAH. Our highly skilled and caring staff is passionate about patient care and dedicated to making GAH the model of excellence in rural health care. Our patients and communities deserve nothing less.” Robert C. Schmitt II, CEO
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD®
The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that include relevant clinical performance, patient satisfaction, and appropriate accreditations. The Best Hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being. The Women's Choice Award is the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. Visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more.
