Saint Peter’s University Hospital has once again been named one of America’s Best Hospitals by the Women’s Choice Award.
The award signifies that Saint Peter’s is one of the top healthcare providers in the country based on a review of nearly 5,000 hospitals, according to information provided by the hospital.
Saint Peter’s has been recognized in five distinct areas: Best Hospital for Cancer Care; Best Hospital for Obstetrics; Best Breast Centers, Best Mammogram Imaging Center; and Best Children’s Hospital.
“We are once again honored to have been recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals,” Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, said in the statement. “We’re committed to delivering the best possible clinical care and strive every day to positively impact patient satisfaction with a compassionate and skilled approach across all clinical areas.”
The methodology for America’s Best Hospitals 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 patient services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
Additionally, each service line award has specific supplementary criteria.
For a full list of award methodology, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com/hospital-methodology/
Saint Peter’s University Hospital has earned the Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals for Obstetrics and Best Breast Centers for seven consecutive years and the Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals for Cancer Care for the sixth consecutive year. This is the second year in a row that The Children’s Hospital was recognized with the Women’s Choice Award for Best Children’s Hospital Award. The Women’s Choice Award for Best Mammogram Imaging Center is a new area of distinction this year.
Saint Peter’s recognition as a recipient of the 2020 Women’s Choice Award for Cancer Care indicates that the hospital is in the top 7% of 4,542 U.S. hospitals offering cancer care services. Accreditation required for the award ensures that a hospital or facility offers a full range of diagnostic and treatment services or provides integrated cancer care and comprehensive services, according to the statement.
A hospital must be designated by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Classification (ACS CoC) as one of four specific types of cancer programs to be considered for the award. The Women’s Choice Award measures hospitals on the presence of specific cancer-related services offered onsite, infection rates and patient recommendation ratings on the HCAHPS Survey. The award is unique in that criteria also include primary research about women’s healthcare preferences, according to the statement.
Low infection rates compared to the national average are another important factor for consideration as oncology patients are more susceptible than other patients to hospital-acquired infections because of their compromised immune systems, according to the statement.
Recognition in Obstetrics reflects Saint Peter’s ranking is in the top 5% of 4,542 U.S. hospitals offering obstetrics. It is the only award recognizing excellence in obstetric services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
The America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics distinction is based on the following specific criteria:
* The percentage of patients reporting through the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital
* Patient safety ranking based on 11 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 breast feeding education and counseling
* Level III and Level IV neonatal intensive care designations to provide comprehensive care for the most complex and critically ill newborns.
Saint Peter’s was New Jersey’s first Regional Perinatal Center with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to care for premature and fragile newborns. Recognized as a regional leader in women’s health, Saint Peter’s delivered more than 5,100 newborns in 2019.
The hospital’s Breast Center was also recognized, ranking in the top 4% of 4,542 U.S. hospitals offering breast care services. The significance of the Best Breast Centers award means Saint Peter’s is among breast centers that have met the highest standards of breast care in the nation as set by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and carry the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) seal from the American College of Radiology.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital was also recognized for as one of America’s Best Mammogram Imaging Centers. This award means that Saint Peter’s is representative of imaging centers that carry the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) seal from the American College of Radiology and are accredited for Mammograms (MAP).
The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital was recognized as one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. The designation of Best Children’s Hospitals is based on a point system and self-reported data from almost 60 children’s hospitals in the nation. The award criteria examines five different facility areas to determine which hospital is eligible for the Women’s Choice Award. These areas are Pediatric Services, Technology and Family Resources, Board-Certified Staff, Nurses and Support Staff and the facility’s Commitment to Quality.
Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award, Delia Passi, emphasized that Saint Peter’s University Hospital truly delivers on the care that matters most to women.
“In addition to high-level performance on a national level, Saint Peter’s provides the care that women value most, including easily accessible services, timely diagnosis, exceptional care and a true dedication to their community,” she said in the statement.
For more information on the America’s Best Hospitals, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals
