Emergency room waiting times one of key measurements for award

Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare.  The award signifies that PMC is among the top U.S. hospitals when offering emergency care services. PMC was the only hospital in Kentucky to receive this award.

Each year, there are more than 130 million emergency room visits in the U.S.  Emergency departments (ED) continue to be an essential part of the healthcare system as they provide fast, life-or-limb saving care to millions each year.   Unlike other hospital departments that interact with the same patient and families for an extended period, ER staff typically has one patient encounter, often when anxiety and fear is at its peak.

“Emergency departments can be very stressful environments, particularly for the elderly or a mother with a sick or injured child,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award.  “Women make or influence 94% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and others.  Knowing the Women’s Choice Award has already placed their seal of excellence on a hospital is validation that they have made the right decision during a very stressful time.”

The methodology for America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care award is unique in that it combines Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. The award recognizes excellence in emergency care based on several process of care measures focused on time patients spent in the emergency department, including:

  • Total Time Spent in the Emergency Department
  • Percent of Emergency Patients Who Left Without Being Seen

Criteria for selecting Pikeville Medical Center as one of America’s Best also included the percentage of patients who came to the emergency department with stroke symptoms who received brain scan results within 45 minutes of arrival.  Also included this year were hospitals that performed well in responding to patients showing symptoms of severe sepsis, a very dangerous condition.

“Receiving awards like this is wonderful for our hospital, staff and entire community,” said Dale Morton, MSN, RN, EMT, Executive Director of Emergency and Transfer Services.  “At the PMC ED, we treat patients from 26 counties across four states and are Kentucky’s only level II trauma Center. Receiving this Women’s Choice award is additional validation that the PMC Emergency Department is working as it should for our patients and their families.”

“PMC not only performed well clinically with regard to emergency care measures, but they also have a high recommendation rating, which is very important to women when it comes to health-related decisions” says Passi.

PMC is one of 417 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for emergency care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

For the full list of the Best Hospitals for Emergency Care, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-emergency-care

 

 

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 includes 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.