UConn John Dempsey Hospital has been named one of America’s 2024 Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, Cancer Care, Stroke Care, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Breast Cancer, Mammogram Images, Women’s Services and Obstetrics by the Women’s Choice Award, America’s trusted referral sources for the best in healthcare.

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.

“We are proud to once again be a recipient of the Women’s Choice Awards earning higher percentages in each area and increasing this year to an eighth award. John Dempsey Hospital continues to be a leader in health care and patient satisfaction. This hard work reflects our highly skilled and caring staff who are passionate about patient care and dedicated to making John Dempsey Hospital a model of excellence in health care,” says Dr. Bruce Liang, Interim CEO, UConn Health, Dean UConn School of Medicine.

Best Hospital for Cancer Care

This award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 4% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering cancer care services.

To qualify, a 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 to be considered for the award. The Women’s Choice Award measures hospitals 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. The award is unique in that criteria also include primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

Accreditation required for the award ensures that a hospital or facility offers a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, or provides integrated cancer care and comprehensive services.
Low infection rates compared to the national average are another important measure. Oncology patients are more susceptible than other patients to hospital-acquired infections because of their compromised immune systems.

John Dempsey Hospital is one of 492 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for cancer care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

Best Hospital for Breast Care

This award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 1% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering breast care services.

The methodology used to select JDH as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Comprehensive Breast Care is unique in that it evaluates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

John Dempsey Hospital represents breast centers that have met the highest standards of breast care in the nation as set by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) or the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers (NQMBC) and carry the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) seal from the American College of Radiology.

Best Hospital for Patient Safety

The award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 5% of 4,728 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 as one of the Best Hospitals for Patient Safety is unique in that it evaluates 13 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.

John Dempsey Hospital is one of 510 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for patient safety in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

Best Hospital for Minimally Invasive Surgery

This award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 1% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive Surgery has become the standard of care for many surgical procedures as a safer, less invasive and more effective option to open surgery. Minimally Invasive surgeries minimize risks to the patient by significantly reducing the size of the incisions which has clear benefits including shorter hospital stays, if any, fewer complications, faster recovery, and reduced pain, scarring and costs.

John Dempsey Hospital achieved the Best Hospitals for Minimally Invasive Surgery distinction by meeting criteria that included being listed by the American Hospital Directory (AHD.com) as providing Robotic Surgery. Alternatively, a hospital can qualify if they have accreditation from the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (AIMIS), or designation by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery or Minimally Invasive Gynecology.

Hospitals must also have a patient recommendation rating of 70% or more (i.e. higher than the national average) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey (HCAHPS).

Best Hospital for Stroke Care

The award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 5% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering stroke care services.

According to the American Stroke Association, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60% of stroke deaths, a “brain attack,” are in women, and studies show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed for stroke even with the same symptoms present as men.

The Best Hospitals for Stroke Care are hospitals that hold a Stroke Center Certification, recognizing centers that meet high standards for stroke care as determined by the Joint Commission (JC) and/or Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Credit is given for certifications on a scale based on the degree of care available to the stroke patient.

It is the only award recognizing excellence in stroke care based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The methodology used to select John Dempsey Hospital as one of the Best Hospitals for Stroke Care is unique in that it evaluates Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

Hospitals that meet the stroke center certification requirement, must then meet or exceed the following performance measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals must also score in the top 80% of all hospitals in the percent of patients receiving Head CT scan results within 45 minutes, and cannot have received a rating of Worse than the National Rate for the Deaths from Serious Treatable Complications measure.

John Dempsey Hospital is one of 508 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for stroke care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

Best Hospitals for Mammogram Imaging

The award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 2% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering mammography services.

John Dempsey Hospital represents imaging centers that carry the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) seal from the American College of Radiology and are accredited for Mammograms (MAP). Hospitals must also have a patient recommendation rating of 70% or more (i.e. higher than the national average) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey (HCAHPS).

Best Hospitals for Women’s Services

The award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 6% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals reviewed.

Women experience unique health care challenges and are more likely to be diagnosed with certain diseases than men. It is important for her to know about future health risks and use every opportunity to prevent chronic illness and disability to keep herself healthy through all phases of her life.

John Dempsey Hospital achieved the Best Hospitals for Women’s Services distinction by meeting the following criteria:

• Hospitals must provide comprehensive obstetrics services.
• Hospitals must have a Patient Recommendation Rating above the national average, and hospitals must meet at least three of the following criteria:
• Hospitals must have a dedicated center for breast care.
• Hospitals must be designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE)
• Hospitals have a Level III or Level IV (the highest) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• Hospitals must provide a full range of cardiovascular services.
• Hospitals must be a designated Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology

John Dempsey Hospital is one of 317 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for women’s services across the U.S.

Best Hospitals for Obstetrics

The award signifies that John Dempsey Hospital is in the top 9.2% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals reviewed and is the first time John Dempsey Hospital has received this award.

The Women’s Choice Award educates all women on where to receive the best care and focuses its research on hospitals that provide the highest quality patient experience, especially important for potential labor complications.

The methodology for the Best Hospitals for Obstetrics 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 obstetric services based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

The America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics gives consideration to the following specific criteria (all are not required):

• The percentage of patients reporting through the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely
  recommend the hospital.
  Patient safety ranking based on 12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures
  of infection and complication rates
• Low rates of early elective deliveries (between 0-1%)
• Baby-Friendly USA designation, a World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations
  Children’s Fund (UNICEF) initiative to support best practices for breast feeding education
  and counseling
  Level III and Level IV neonatal intensive care designations to provide comprehensive care
  for the most complex and critically ill newborns.

By carrying the Women’s Choice Awards in these eight areas, John Dempsey Hospital is part of an elite network of healthcare facilities across America who are all committed to empowering women to make smart healthcare choices. To learn more visit www.WomensChoiceAward.com.