Nation's Best Health Care Organizations for Patient Satisfaction, Core Measures Honored by Press Ganey

DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Press Ganey Associates, Inc. has announced its elite class of 2011 award-winning health care organizations, including recipients of the first-ever Summit and Top Improver awards for clinical achievement and the new Patient Voice Award™ for Academic Medical Centers.

Press Ganey, the health care industry's leading performance improvement firm, is trusted by more than 10,000 health care organizations worldwide to create and sustain high performing organizations and to help improve clinical, operational and patient satisfaction outcomes. In addition to Patient Voice, Summit and Top Improver award recipients, the company is also honoring winners of the following awards this week at the 2011 Press Ganey National Client Conference in Dallas, Texas.

• Partner of Choice Award®
• Best Place to Practice Award®
• Distinctive Workplace Award™
• Success Story Award®

"We're excited to recognize more than 160 clients for their outstanding achievements over the past year," said Press Ganey CEO Robert Draughon. "These health care organizations serve as shining examples of the positive outcomes that result from focusing on patient satisfaction and core measures performance to improve quality of care."

This year for the first time, in addition to achievement in patient satisfaction, Press Ganey recognized clinical core measures performance in the Summit and Top Improver categories. Ninety-eight organizations were honored with a Summit Award® for achieving and sustaining the highest level of excellence; 11 for core measures performance and 87 for patient satisfaction. Thirty-one facilities were named Top Improvers for demonstrating continuous improvement over two years; 13 for core measures initiatives and 18 for patient satisfaction.

A new award was also introduced this year – the Patient Voice Award. This award recognizes academic medical centers that have achieved excellence in patient satisfaction as demonstrated by HCAHPS performance compared to other academic medical centers in the Press Ganey database. There were three Patient Voice recipients.

In addition, three Partner of Choice Award winners were recognized for organization-wide excellence in satisfaction among patients, physicians and employees; six Best Place to Practice winners were recognized for excellence in physician partnership; and 11 facilities were honored with Distinctive Workplace awards for outstanding employee partnership. Nine Success Story awards were given to facilities that demonstrated leadership, implemented organizational change and improved patient satisfaction or clinical measures performance.

Winners include health care providers from across the country in both metropolitan and rural areas. A complete list of 2011 Press Ganey award recipients can be found on the Press Ganey web site.

Nearly 2,000 health care leaders from across the country have gathered in Texas at the Press Ganey conference to discuss, learn and share best practices on some of the key issues related to health care quality improvement. Attendees also have an opportunity to hear from leaders of the award-winning organizations and take back practical improvement tips to their own organizations.

Press Ganey Associates, Inc.

Recognized as a leader in performance improvement for 25 years, Press Ganey partners with more than 10,000 health care organizations worldwide to create and sustain high performing organizations, and, ultimately, improve the overall health care experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to help clients operate efficiently, improve quality, increase market share and optimize reimbursement. Press Ganey works with clients from across the continuum of care – hospitals, medical practices, home care agencies and other providers – including 50% of all U.S. hospitals. For more information, visit www.pressganey.com.

SOURCE Press Ganey Associates, Inc.