Columbia Center wins top ratings in national report on patient perspectives of hospital care

Release: April 23, 2008

Columbia Center wins top ratings in national report on patient perspectives of hospital care

Mequon, Wis. – Columbia Center had top rankings on patient satisfaction scores in a recently released national report compared to other hospitals, both locally and nationally.

Ninety-two percent of Columbia Center patients would recommend it to family and friends, well above the national average of 67% , the Wisconsin average of 71%, and the scores of other Milwaukee-area hospitals in the recently released Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.(See accompanying graphs).

Columbia Center also consistently outperformed other hospitals in patient responses to survey questions measuring medical staff communication and responsiveness, hospital cleanliness and noise level.

HCAHPS scores of hospitals that voluntarily released them are available to the public at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. The scores reflect survey responses from October 2005 to September 2006.

In a letter of congratulations, Jayson Ferman of Press Ganey Associates, the organization that produced the report, said, "Being identified among the hospitals that perform in the top quartile in patient perceptions of quality is a tremendous achievement and proves that you place a premium on quality interaction and patient-centered care."

Columbia Center is a boutique-style birth hospital that is now located on the Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee campus in Mequon. It moved in September from its former location at the Columbia campus in Milwaukee, where it continues to prioritize patient-centered care, says Candy Casey, Columbia Center CEO. "Our goal here is to consistently delight patients and support doctors to make every birth an exceptionally positive experience for everyone involved."

– 30 –

Columbia Center is an intimate birthing hospital that supports women and their families through pregnancy, birth and beyond. An independent hospital, Columbia Center is located on the Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee campus in Mequon, Wis. and online at columbiacenter.org.

.