STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Apparently, patients are pretty darn happy with their experience at St. Luke’s Wood River.
The hospital has been honored with a 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award by Press Ganey. The award recognizes health care organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above in performance regarding patient experience in the emergency department and impatient.
Scores are based on patient satisfaction scores.
“They are truly dedicated to delivering exceptional care … and their commitment to capturing and acting on patient experience feedback is a very powerful demonstration of this,” said Patrick T. Ryan, CEO of Press Ganey.
Press Ganey pioneered the health care performance improvement movement more than 30 years ago and makes suggestions on how to improve patient experience. The organization works with more than 33,000 health care facilities to reduce patient suffering and improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.
“Every day our staff demonstrates their passion and commitment to provide the best possible experience along with exceptional outcomes,” said Cody Langbehn, St. Luke’s Wood River administrator. “They have worked diligently to improve processes and to communicate across departments to provide seamless, coordinated care to our patients.”
Angela Brady, director of nursing and patient care for the emergency department, noted that the emergency department can be a frightening experience for patients and families but that the St. Luke’s staff takes extra steps to attend to their emotional needs.
“They love what they do and it shows in the exceptional care they give,” she said.
Stephanie Reichert, director of nursing and patient care for medical/surgical and mother/baby, agreed.
“This is an affirmation that everyone is committed to listening to the needs of the patient and doing their utmost to address their needs, striving to make them comfortable and to promote a healing environment,” she said.