CentraState - Healthy Directions

CentraState Medical Center 901 W Main St Freehold, NJ 07728 Read Healthy Directions online at www.CentraState.com/Publications. Subscribe to our free health e-newsletter by scanning the QR code with your smartphone or visiting www.CentraState.com/Enews. CentraState Briefs CentraState Earns Best Value Hospital Designation CentraState Medical Center was recently recognized by Verras Healthcare International as being one of New Jersey's top 10 "Best Value Hospitals" for 2014 in the category of 250+ beds. The recognition tracks three years of trended medical outcomes using six universally accepted metrics of quality and cost efficiency, which are quality measures also used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The award given to top hospitals in the 10 most populous states looked at six performance measures: national quality measures, use of resources, reduction in charge variation, readmission rates, mortality rates, and length of stay for the most common diagnoses. Verras' Clinical Variation Solution has earned the exclusive endorsement of the American Hospital Association. "Today there are numerous organizations judging the quality and value of health care organizations, making it confusing for consumers to understand and appreciate," explains John Gribbin, president/CEO of CentraState Healthcare System. "The metrics used by Verras are in line with valid measurements used by the federal government to measure not only quality and safety standards in the delivery of care, but perhaps more importantly, the actual value of the care patients receive. More and more, health care organizations are being held accountable for providing value (quality and cost) outcomes, making this recognition meaningful for our community. Along with our recent reaccreditation of Magnet status for our nursing care, this recognition tells our patients and our communities that CentraState offers a high level of quality care, delivered with efficiency." CentraState Lauded for Its Stroke Program CentraState Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been placed on the Women's Choice Award ® list for America's 50 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care in the United States. This distinction, the first of its kind in the country, is based on research from publicly available data (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and patient recommendation and satisfaction scores (HCAHPS), which are then weighted based on a national survey of women's priorities when selecting health care. More than 1,120 stroke care facilities were included in the analysis. The Women's Choice Award ® assists consumers in making informed purchases by identifying brands that are most recommended and trusted by women. Those that deliver a customer experience worthy of recommendation are selected to win a Women's Choice Award ® . "Making the list of 50 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care means that women can be assured that the compassionate, quality stroke care they receive at CentraState is among the best in the nation," says Laurie Gambardella, MSN, RN, administrative director for Emergency Services at CentraState. "We have a multidisciplinary stroke team in place waiting to expedite care of stroke patients immediately upon their arrival to the emergency department. We understand that urgent medical care is critical and can mean the difference between life and death, and our goal is to make sure patients don't suffer the harmful effects from stroke."

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