UP Health System - UP!

THE CENTERS FOR Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced that UP Health System – Bell is on the short list of "Five Star" facilities in the nation. Only 7 percent, or about 250 hospitals in the U.S., received the highest possible Five Star rating. "Everyone at UPHS – Bell and the entire western Marquette County community can take pride in the Five Star rating recognition by CMS," says UPHS – Bell CEO Mitch Leckelt. "It's humbling to be ranked among the best in the nation for consistently delivering quality care in a compassionate setting. It is a tribute to our Medical Staff, Advisory Board of Directors and every Bell employee and volunteer. It assures the patients we serve that what we call 'the Bell experience' is built upon a century of unwavering commitment." According to the CMS press statement, "e Hospital Compare star ratings relate to patients' experiences of care at almost 3,500 Medicare-certified acute care hospitals. e ratings are based on data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) measures that are included in Hospital Compare." ose measures include: • How well nurses and doctors communicated with patients • How responsive hospital staff was to patient needs • How clean and quiet hospital environments were • How well patients were prepared for post-hospital settings "For the first time, CMS introduced star ratings on Hospital Compare, the agency's public information website, to make it easier for consumers to choose a hospital and understand the quality of care they deliver," the report states. Doug LaBelle, MD, Chief Medical Officer at UPHS – Bell, points out that the hospital has been consistently ranked among the top facilities nationwide in patient satisfaction for years. "e internal culture at Bell is reflective of our community as a whole," LaBelle says. "We care for our neighbors like family. at spirit is ingrained at Bell." "e patient experience Star Ratings will make it easier for consumers to use the information on the Hospital Compare website and spotlight excellence in healthcare quality," says Patrick Conway, MD, deputy administrator for Innovation and Quality at CMS. "ese star ratings also encourage hospitals and clinicians to strive to continuously improve the patient experience and quality of care delivered to all patients." UP Health System's FIVE STAR FACILITY ONLY 7% of U.S. hospitals receive the Five Star rating. SHINING STAR Ishpeming IN FALL / WINTER 2015 UPHE ALTHSYSTEM .COM 8

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