St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center Receives 2023 Women’s Choice Award® as One of America’s Best Hospitals in Multiple Categories

PASADENA, TX (April 7, 2023)  – St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center has been named among America’s Best Hospitals by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The hospital earned recognitions for the following three categories:

• America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety

• America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery

• America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care

“I am exceptionally proud of our physicians and staff at St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center for earning recognition among America’s Best Hospitals by The Women’s Choice Award,” said Steven Foster, president of St. Luke’s South Houston market. “These three three achievements reflect our team’s dedication and commitment to excellence in weight loss surgery, emergency care, and patient safety.”

America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety

The award signifies that St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center  is in the top 6% of the country  of 4,729 U.S. hospitals for patient safety in safe surgery practices and lower rates for complications and infections.

“Not all hospitals can say they are the safest in the country, and by identifying those who are, the Women’s Choice Award is helping the female consumer identify the hospitals in her community that are dedicated to creating the safest patient experience,” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. 

The methodology used to select St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center as one of the Best Hospitals for Patient Safety is unique in that it evaluates 12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) measures of infections and complications, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in patient safety based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.  

“The recipients of the America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety award have led the country by implementing safe practices that have ultimately saved lives,” said Passi.  “This recognition is critical for women as they make over 80% of healthcare decisions and need to know they are putting themselves—and their family members—in the safest hands.”

St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center is one of 487 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for patient safety in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.  

For the full list of the Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals-for-patient-safety   

America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery

The award signifies that St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center is in the top 4% of 4,729 U.S. hospitals reviewed.

The methodology for the bariatric surgery award is unique in that it combines national accreditations, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results and hospital outcome scores with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in bariatric surgery based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. 

St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center achieved the Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery distinction by meeting the following criteria:

• Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) as part of the joint-sponsored Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP)

• At least 70% of patients reporting on the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital

• A high patient safety ranking based on 12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates 

St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center  is one of 406 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for bariatric surgery across the U.S.

“There are many women who struggle with their weight, especially as they get older.  For some, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough and they need to turn to bariatric surgery to reduce their weight for their overall health.” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “As a family’s chief caregiver, it is important for women to keep their own health in top shape and we help her by letting her know where to go for the best bariatric surgery.”

For the full list of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-bariatric-surgery

America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care

The award signifies that St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center  is in the top 2% of 4,729 U.S. hospitals offering emergency care services. 

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, life-or-limb saving care to millions each year.   Unlike other hospital departments that interact with the same patient and families for an extended period, ER staff typically has one patient encounter, often when anxiety and fear is at its peak.

“Emergency departments can be very stressful environments, particularly for the elderly or a mother with a sick or injured child,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award.  “Women make or influence 94% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and others.  They want to be confident that they know which emergency departments in their communities will take care of their loved ones quickly and with the best possible care.  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.” 

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 St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center 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.  Also included this year were hospitals that performed well in responding to patients showing symptoms of severe sepsis, a very dangerous condition.  The  awarded hospitals represent those with emergency departments with average measure times in the highest 25th to 50th percentile in the country.  Additional points were provided for the various trauma center levels.

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.  

“St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center  not only performed well clinically with regard to emergency care measures, but they also have a high recommendation rating, which is very important to women when it comes to health-related decisions” says Passi.  

St. Luke’s Health - Patients Medical Center  is one of 417 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for emergency care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.  

For the full list of the Best Hospitals for Emergency Care, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-emergency-care

About St. Luke’s Health
St. Luke’s Health is home to 16 general hospitals covering Houston, Brazos Valley, Brazosport, and Lufkin and includes Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, the research and teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. St. Luke’s Health is also home to the Texas Heart ®Institute (THI), the top ranked heart center in Houston, and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, a nationally accredited, NCI-designated cancer center. Its integrated network of care includes more than 380 employed and 1,600 clinically aligned network providers, and more than 21,000 employees, providers, interns, and volunteers delivering high value, nationally-ranked quality care within a Christian ministry of healing. St. Luke’s Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health, a national nonprofit, Catholic health system with more than 140 hospitals covering 21 states and delivering care to more than 12.3 million patient visits annually. Learn more at stlukeshealth.org.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD®
The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that includes relevant clinical performance, patient satisfaction and appropriate accreditations. The Best Hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being.  The Women's Choice Award is the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. Visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more.