Thursday, February 3, 2022
Norman Regional Health System has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency and Heart Care, as well as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by the Women’s Choice Award, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare.
These awards signify that Norman Regional is among the top ranked hospitals offering emergency, heart and stroke care.
“Being recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care, Heart Care and Stroke, reconfirms that we are continuing to focus on our patients,” said Richie Splitt, president and CEO of Norman Regional. “Norman Regional and our team our healers are committed to the measures we have in place to provide the highest level of care.”
According to Women’s Choice, women make or influence 94% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and others.
“We help women by conducting evidence-based research and by recognizing the hospitals that could one day save their lives,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “Knowing the Women’s Choice Award has already placed their seal of excellence on a hospital is immediate validation that they have made the right decision, easing their concern during a very stressful time.”
Emergency
Each year, there are more than 130 million emergency room visits in the U.S. Emergency departments continue to be an essential part of the healthcare system as they provide fast, lifesaving care to millions each year.
The methodology for America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care award is unique in that it combines Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. The award recognizes excellence in emergency care based on several process of care measures focused on time patients spent in the emergency department, including:
- Total time spent in the Emergency Department
- Percent of emergency patients who left without being seen
Criteria for selecting Norman Regional as one of America’s Best also included the percentage of patients who came to the emergency department with stroke symptoms who received brain scan results within 45 minutes of arrival and hospitals that performed well in responding to patients showing symptoms of severe sepsis.
The award is especially significant given that long waits and high crowding can negatively impact patient outcomes, including patients leaving without receiving medical treatment, longer overall length of hospital stay and an increase in mortality rates.
Heart
The methodology used to select Norman Regional as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care is unique in that it evaluates:
- The number of cardiac/vascular services offered
- 30-Day mortality and readmission rates for heart attack and failure
- Patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey
- Primary research about women’s healthcare preferences
“Heart disease is the leading killer of women,” Passi said. “With such strong prevalence of heart disease, we want every woman to know where to find the very best heart care before she ever has an incident.”
Stroke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women in the U.S. will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60% of stroke deaths are in women, and stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Most alarming, studies show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed for stroke even with the same symptoms present as men.
“Timely diagnosis and effective care are critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery. The time to identify your community’s leading hospital for stroke care is right now, not in the middle of a medical emergency when every minute is precious,” Passi said. “Our award educates women about where they—and their loved ones—have the best chance to return to a full life following a stroke.”
America’s Best Stroke Centers are hospitals that hold a Stroke Center Certification from the Joint Commission. Credit is given for certifications on a scale based on the degree of care available to the stroke patient.
It is the only award recognizing excellence in stroke care based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The methodology used to select Norman Regional as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers is unique in that it evaluates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.