In a newly released listing, Bigfork Valley has scored at the top of the state in the quality of nurse communication with patients in the hospital.

The listing in Becker’s Hospital Review was based on scores from the federal hospital patient satisfaction survey which is sent to a patient after a hospital stay and reported directly to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Quality of nurse communication is measured from questions about courtesy and respect, careful listening and clear explanations.  Patients awarded Bigfork Valley a score of 94 percent, with a state average of 83 percent and a national average of 80 percent.

Bigfork Valley also was the only hospital in the state to receive five star ratings in each of the 11 categories on the patient satisfaction survey plus the overall summary rating, an achievement it has rewached in each of the five quarters star ratings have been reported.

Other recent recognition in lists compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review include first in the nation for overall patient experience and discharge communication practices, a second in the nation for physician-patient communication and sixth in the nation for cleanliness of room and bath.  The lists are drawn from results of surveys sent to patients of over 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals across the country.

“We’re very pleased to have earned such wonderful recognition for the effort our staff makes to give each of our patients a quality experience while recovering in the hospital,” said Aaron Saude, CEO.  “It’s our goal to treat each patient like a friend or family member, and our Bigfork Valley employees do an exceptional job.”

The patient satisfaction survey (or HCAHPS, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) was developed to help make the patient experience during a hospital stay transparent to consumers.  It was started over ten years ago and is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.  Sent to patients after discharge from a hospital, independent surveys measure such things as cleanliness, quietness, interaction with doctors and nurses, and more. The results are collected and sent directly to Medicare where the figures are adjusted to compensate for such factors as hospital size.

The latest release covered the year ending in March 2016, with results listed in December.  Only hospitals with over 100 responses for a year were included in the Becker’s Hospital Review lists.  The complete national results are listed on the CMS Hospital Compare website, and rankings are shown on www.beckershospitalreview.com, search on HCAHPS under Lists.

Bigfork Valley is an acute care hospital located in Bigfork, Minn., employing over 200. In addition to general hospital and emergency services, the facility offers a wide range of health care services and senior living options.