CONTRIBUTED BY EAH
OPELIKA —
East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) has been named as one of America’s Best Hospitals by the Women’s Choice Award. The award signifies that EAMC is one of the top health care providers in the country based on a review of almost 5,000 hospitals.
EAMC was recognized as a top provider in cancer care, obstetrics and orthopedics. By carrying the Women’s Choice Award seal in these areas, EAMC has joined an elite network of hospitals committed to a global mission of empowering women to make smart health care choices.
“Being recognized in three different areas is a testament to the dedication of our employees in providing our patients with high-quality, compassionate health care,” said Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health. “We are honored by these awards, and we will continue to strive to provide our community with the best care possible.”
The Women’s Choice Award is the only distinction that identifies the nation’s best health care institutions based on robust criteria that considers patient satisfaction, clinical excellence, relevant accreditations and women’s preferences when it comes to treatment and a quality hospital experience. Additionally, each service line award has supplementary criteria that are specific to the service line. The methodology is 100% objective, replicable and uniform. Only the top 10% of hospitals in the nation can qualify. For a full list of award methodology, visit the Women’s Choice Award methodology page.
EAMC earned designation as a Best Hospital for Cancer Care award because it met the comprehensive cancer care standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, as well as achieving excellence in clinical performance regarding cancer care measures and for its high patient recommendation rate. It also provides comprehensive care with a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. EAMC ranked in the top 9% for cancer care in the nation.
EAMC earned the Best Hospitals for Obstetrics award by providing the highest level of obstetric services based on its exceptional scores for patient recommendation, as provided by data reported by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys. Other factors were an analysis that weighs criteria identified as the most important to women for patient satisfaction, including early elective delivery rates, having a Level III/IV NICU, holding “Baby Friendly” designation, and having infection and surgical complication scores that were ranked below the weighted national average for patient safety. EAMC is recognized for ranking in the top 10% for obstetrics care.
By offering a full range of diagnostic and specialty services for patients with injuries or conditions of the muscles, bones or joints, EAMC earned recognition as one of the Best Hospitals for Orthopedics. Apart from being a comprehensive facility, EAMC has high patient recommendation and recovery ratings, and low adverse surgical event scores. For orthopedics, EAMC ranks in the top 7% percent of hospitals in the nation.
Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award, Delia Passi, emphasized that EAMC delivers on the care that matters most to women, who make over 90% of health care decisions.
“Being treated with the proper level of care impacts your health, well-being and healing, so our goal is to identify those hospitals that have demonstrated the highest level of quality care to their patients, with a special focus on the female experience. The Women’s Choice Award makes it easier for her to trust her decision that she is choosing one of the best hospitals for herself and her family.
“We have found that recommendations are the single most important consideration used by women in selecting a hospital or care center, so all of our methodologies take into account the hospital’s patient recommendation rating, along with a strong clinical performance,” added Passi. “By letting women know which hospitals in their area are among the best, we are able to reduce risk by helping them make better decisions and smarter health care choices.” For more information on America’s Best Hospitals, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals
ABOUT EAST ALABAMA HEALTH
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital with a 26-bed Skilled Nursing Facility, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,500 employees and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.
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 its 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 www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more.