Recognized with Two Women's Choice Awards - America's Best Stroke Center and Orthopedic Hospital in 2020

Carteret Health care has been recognized as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers and one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics by the Women’s Choice Award®. These awards signify that Carteret Health Care is in the top 9% of 4,910 U.S. hospitals offering stroke care services and is in the top 10% of hospitals offering orthopedics services.

Carteret Health Care is one of 414 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for stroke care and is one of 479 award recipients representing the high standards for orthopedics care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

Carteret Health Care’s new President, Harvey Case stated, “Even before joining the Carteret team, I saw from the outside that the staff at Carteret Health Care are amazing. These two new quality recognitions further validate the superior care and compassion patients have been receiving and will continue to receive from this hospital.”

Stroke

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60% of stroke deaths are in women, and stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Most alarming, the percentage of strokes in women under age 45 is increasing, with studies showing these women are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

“Timely diagnosis and effective care are critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery. The time to identify leading hospitals for stroke care is right now, not in the middle of a medical emergency when every minute is precious,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “We congratulate Carteret Health Care and their dedication to education, prevention, and early intervention to reduce the devastating effects of stroke.”

A stroke center must be certified by the Joint Commission Stroke Certification Program as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and/or Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center to be considered for the award. 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 Carteret Health Care as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers is unique in that it evaluates 30-day stroke mortality and readmission rates and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. Hospitals must also score in the top 80% of all hospitals in the following areas:

• Percent of patients receiving Head CT scan results within 45 minutes
• Percent of patients receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy

Orthopedic

There are clear gender differences in musculoskeletal disease, according to a study reported in The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Structural anatomy differences, hormones, and genetics are factors in optimizing care for male vs. female orthopedic patients. Because women have higher rates of arthritis than men, some 60% of joint replacement surgeries are performed on women.

In a national survey conducted by the Women’s Choice Award, female orthopedic patients identified the following key priorities when choosing a hospital for orthopedics:

• Single source for orthopedic services
• Solid patient safety record
• High recommendation ratings

“Women have different orthopedics needs, particularly as they grow older and become more at risk for osteoporosis and fractures,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “Being treated with the proper level of care impacts one’s health, well-being, and healing, so it is critical for women to know those hospitals that have demonstrated the highest level of quality care for their patients, with a special focus on the needs and preferences of women.”

The methodology used to select Carteret Health Care as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics 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. Award recipients are also measured on their incidence of surgical complications and infections, including:

• A wound that splits open after surgery
• Accidental cuts and tears
• Deaths from serious treatable complications
• Rate of complications for knee or hip replacement patients
• Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureu (MRSA) infections

A hospital must have arthroscopy, joint replacement and spine surgery orthopedic services available to patients, onsite physical therapy, and an MRI in order to qualify for the award. It is the only award recognizing excellence in orthopedics based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

For more information on the America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics, please visit https://www.womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals/

As the sole community hospital, Carteret remains focused on growing essential services to better serve its population and these distinctions come after Carteret Health Care was chosen as a member of the May Clinic Care Network in November 2019. Carteret Health Care doctors can now use the latest research, diagnostic and treatment recommendations from Mayo Clinic to develop best treatment plans for Carteret patients.

Case concluded, “These achievements are only made possible by the commitment and exceptional care provided by all of our hospital and medical staff every day.”