One of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, Heart, Cancer Care

St. Luke’s Health-Memorial recently received numerous awards for its top-quality heart care, cancer care and commitment to delivering the highest level of patient safety.

This year, St. Luke’s Health-Memorial was named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care, one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, and one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care by the Women’s Choice Award, a trusted referral source for recommending the top hospitals in the nation. 

America’s Best hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being. These awards are the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital because research shows that women make 80% of healthcare decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year—approximately one woman every minute.  What’s often thought of as a “man’s disease” strikes more women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. St. Luke’s Health-Memorial has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care by the Women’s Choice Award® two years in a row.

“With such strong prevalence of heart disease in deep East Texas, every woman should know where to find the very best heart care before she or her family member ever has an incident,” said St. Luke’s Health-Memorial’s Chief Executive Officer Monte Bostwick. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a hospital that is saving lives in the battle against heart disease.” 

The methodology used to select St. Luke’s Health-Memorial as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care evaluates: 

• The number of cardiac/vascular services offered. Recognized hospitals must offer at least six of the following services: Cardiac Catheter Lab, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cardiac Surgery, Carotid Stenting, Coronary Interventions, Electrophysiology, Vascular Interventions, Vascular Surgery and Coronary Intensive Care (CCU).
• 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.

The Best Hospital for Patient Safety award recognizes hospitals for safe surgical practices and lower rates for complications and infections. St. Luke’s Health-Memorial, as well as healthcare as a whole, has made significant strides in patient safety in recent years. Hospital-acquired conditions – those developed in the hospital while a patient is being treated for something else – declined nationally 21% from 2010 to 2015, resulting in 125,000 fewer patient deaths according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“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 Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “This recognition is critical for women to know that they are putting themselves—and their family members—in safe hands.”

The methodology used to select St. Luke’s Health as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety is unique in that it evaluates 11 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. 

To receive the award, hospitals must also use an Inpatient Safe Surgery Checklist to assess effective communication and safe practices during three perioperative periods: prior to administration of anesthesia; prior to skin incision; and prior to the patient leaving the operating room or procedural area. 

St. Luke’s Health-Memorial is the only healthcare facility in Lufkin and one of only 522 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for patient safety in the U.S. as determined by the Women’s Choice Award. 

As one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care, St. Luke’s Health ranks in the top 9% of nearly 5,000 hospitals offering cancer care services across the nation.

To receive the award, the hospital must be designated by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Classification (ACS CoC) as one of four specific types of cancer programs. The Women’s Choice Award measured the Temple Cancer Center on the presence of specific cancer-related services offered onsite, infection rates and patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey, as well as primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

“We recognize that women have a choice when it comes to cancer care. We strive to be welcoming, compassionate, convenient, efficient, and, especially, excellent in the care we provide,” said Dr. Sid Roberts, Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director of the Temple Cancer Center. “We are proud of the services available locally for women, and all cancer patients, so that there as little disruption in their lives as possible.”

Accreditation required for the cancer care award ensures that the hospital offers a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, or provides integrated cancer care and comprehensive services, and can boast low infection rates to protect the patients’ compromised immune systems. 

Passi emphasized that St. Luke’s Health and all 2018 America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care deliver the care that matters most to women.  “In addition to our award winners’ high-level performance on a national level, they provide the care that women value most, including easily accessible services onsite to avoid multiple trips for their treatment, which is so important to women faced with a cancer diagnosis,” Passi said.

 “Whether you’re undergoing radiation treatments for cancer, have suffered a heart attack or need surgery, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care,” Bostwick said. “These awards prove that more women trust St. Luke’s Health-Memorial for a wide variety of treatments and services, and we are honored that they do.”