By Jaime Schwartzwald

Fairbanks- Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (FMH) has been awarded a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). FMH is one of only 293 hospitals (out of 3,725 hospitals that participate) in the nation to achieve an overall five-star ranking, the highest ranking possible. FMH is privileged to join an elite group of hospitals dedicated to delivering excellent patient care and providing a positive experience for patients. Nationally, fewer than 8% of eligible hospitals have earned this distinction.

CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers compare hospital and nursing home facilities. CMS’ Hospital Compare website is consumer-oriented, and provides information on how well hospitals provide recommended care to their patients. This information can help consumers make informed decisions about where to go for health care and features a quality rating system that gives hospitals and nursing homes a rating between one and five stars.

CMS collects more than 100 measures of data from hospitals, 57 are used to determine a hospital rating. Those measures are grouped into seven categories that include; medical imaging, timeliness of care, effectiveness of care, patient experience, readmission, safety of care, and mortality. Each category is weighted and combined to create a score. FMH is at the national average in five of the seven categories and is above the national average in two categories; safety of care and readmission.

“This recognition is the result of a continued focus on quality, safety and service,” said FMH Chief Operating Officer Clint Brooks. “We have an incredible team of physicians, nurses, clinical staff, and others who work behind the scenes who come to work every day committed to delivering excellent patient care.”

Of the Alaska hospitals that were evaluated, FMH is one of two to receive the 5-star designation. Four hospitals received four-stars, three received three-stars, and one hospital received a two-star rating.

About Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is part of Foundation Health Partners (FHP). It is a community-owned and community operated hospital serving Fairbanks and the interior with 152 beds. FMH is accredited by The Joint Commission and provides care that includes emergency services, surgery, medical imaging, sleep lab, hospice, rehabilitation, pain clinic, and wound care. The facility houses the Harry & Sally Porter Heart & Vascular Center and the J. Michael Carroll Cancer Center. Denali Center, a 92-bed short and long-term care facility, is co-located with the hospital. For more information about Fairbanks Memorial Hospital visit www.Foundationhealth.org.