Saint Clare’s Achieves Highest Five-Star Rating from CMS
Federal Agency Rates Hospital Among Top Nine Percent in Nation and One of Only Two Hospitals in New Jersey
Denville, NJ, January 31, 2020 – Saint Clare’s Denville and Dover Hospitals have earned a five-star overall hospital rating – the highest you can achieve – by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), placing Saint Clare’s facilities among the top nine percent of hospitals nationwide, and one of only two hospitals in New Jersey to receive this recognition.
“This amazing recognition from CMS demonstrates that Saint Clare’s Health provides the highest quality care and the close family, patient centered service expected from a community hospital,” said Brian Finestein, CEO, Saint Clare’s Health. “We are grateful for the commitment of our physicians and staff, and honored that Saint Clare’s, again, has been recognized among the best in the nation, and is on the short list of hospitals in New Jersey to achieve a five-star rating.”
This overall hospital rating is based on measured data publicly reported on CMS’ Hospital Compare tool (medicare.gov/hospitalcompare). It summarizes up to 51 measures across seven aspects of quality, including patient experience and effectiveness of care into a single star rating for each hospital. The hospital rating shows how well each hospital performed on average compared to other hospitals in the U.S. in treating common conditions such as heart attack or pneumonia. Participating hospitals reported data to CMS, the federal agency that runs the Medicare program through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. Those hospitals were given an overall rating ranging from one to five stars, with five as the highest and four the most common score.
“The physicians and employees of Saint Clare’s demonstrate their commitment to quality every day, and with every patient interaction,” said Jan Bednar, CNO, Saint Clare’s Health. “Being one of only two hospitals in New Jersey to receive this rating assures members of our community that Saint Clare’s is committed to improving their health with a safe, effective and compassionate approach.”
About the CMS Five-Star Rating
First made available to patients in 2005, Hospital Compare is based on rigorously tested quality measures at certified hospitals as well as Veteran Health Administration and military health system hospitals. The comparison tool is located at medicare.gov/hospital compare.
What is the Hospital Compare Overall Rating?
The overall hospital rating summarizes a variety of measures on Hospital Compare reflecting common conditions that hospitals treat, such as heart attacks or pneumonia. The overall hospital rating shows how well each hospital performed on average compared to other hospitals in the United States.
The overall hospital rating ranges from one to five stars. The more stars, the better the hospital performed on the available quality measures. The most common overall hospital rating is three stars.
How can I use the Hospital Compare Overall Hospital Rating?
In an emergency, you should go to the nearest hospital. When you can plan ahead, the Hospital Compare overall hospital rating can provide a starting point for comparing a hospital to others locally and nationwide. Along with the overall hospital rating, Hospital Compare includes information on many important aspects of quality, such as rates of infection and complications and patients’ experiences, based on survey results.
Choosing a hospital is a complex and personal decision that reflects individual needs and preferences. You should consider a variety of factors when choosing a hospital, such as physician guidance about your care plan and other sources of information about hospitals in your area.
Where does the Hospital Compare Overall Hospital Rating come from?
Hospitals report data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that runs the Medicare program, through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program. The Hospital Compare Overall Hospital Rating includes up to 57 of these measures in the overall rating calculation.