Shown with Southwest Regional’s 2012 HealthGrades Five-Star rating awards are SMRMC physicians (from left) orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ted Jordan, medical director Dr. Henry Lewis, cardiologist Dr. Carl Feind, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Don Netherland, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Van Uden, cardiologist Dr. Ali Homayuni, and general surgeon Dr. William Dixon.
HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has recognized Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SWMRMC) for its outstanding clinical achievements in its 2012 survey of hospitals nationwide. The recipient of four prestigious Five-Star ratings, SMRMC achieved the highest ratings awarded by HealthGrades for excellence in:
- Peripheral vascular bypass
- Carotid surgery
- Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)
- Hip fracture treatment
Achieving Five-Star ratings from HealthGrades is not an uncommon occurrence at SWMRMC. The McComb-based medical center is the only hospital in Mississippi to have been rated Five-Star for peripheral vascular bypass for five consecutive years (2008-2012). It is one of four hospitals in the state to have been rated Five-Star for gall bladder removal for four years in a row (2009-2012), and one of four hospitals in Mississippi to have been rated Five-Star for carotid surgery for two years in a row (2011-2012). This is the first year SWMRMC has been rated Five-Star for hip fracture treatment.
“Twenty stars!” declared SWMRMC Chief Executive Officer and Administrator Norman Price. “These four Five-Star ratings are shining examples of our longstanding commitment to providing quality care right here at home and a testament to the fine physicians and support staff who deliver it.”
Each year, millions of people across the country rely on HealthGrades’ ratings to make informed healthcare decisions, based on documented quality of care. In this year’s study, HealthGrades rated each of the nation’s 5,000+ nonfederal hospitals. No hospital can opt-in or opt-out of being rated.
“Our ratings are based on Medicare data,” said Chris Turner, the HealthGrades representative who recently traveled to McComb to present awards signifying the Five-Star Clinical Achievements. He elaborated that over 41 million patient records were researched in their study of hospitals across the United States.
Impressed by the level of care he witnessed being provided in McComb, the Denver-based HealthGrades’ executive acknowledged, “You do things I never expected to see in a rural hospital — and you do them well.” He noted that his visit to McComb only confirmed what the medical records indicated; SMRMC is truly focused on the patient and promotes a culture of quality care and evidence-based medicine. “These Five-Star ratings are not an accident,” Turner added. “You should be proud.”
In addition to the Five-Star ratings, Norman Price shared that HealthGrades ranked SMRMC No. 2 in Mississippi for general surgery as well. “It’s gratifying for our hospital to be recognized for its clinical excellence by a well-respected resource like HealthGrades. Our achievements in the areas of vascular, gastrointestinal and orthopedic surgery, as well as general surgery, are a big accomplishment. But, more importantly, these Five-Star ratings translate into lives saved, families kept intact and better healthcare right here in our backyard, and that’s what matters most.”
More information on how HealthGrades guides Americans to their best health can be found at www.healthgrades.com.
