Congratulations to Chloe Campbell of Wilmot, SD. Chloe was recently chosen as the winner of a $2000 Sanford Health Network Scholarship. Chloe is enrolled in practical nursing at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD, and has goals to be full time as an RN in a rural hospital or an OB nurse. “In this career path, I understand that I will have daily challenges, but yet the reward of being prepared to care for people in their time of need will be worthwhile,” said Cambell.

Pictured presenting Chloe her scholarship is Natasha Hynnek, one of our own clinic nurses. Recently Chloe was working as a student in our clinic when Natasha received an email announcing the opportunity for a Sanford Health Network Scholarship. Natasha encouraged Chloe to apply and, sure enough, she was chosen as the winner.

Introducing Ellecyn Ann, the 2016 OAHS Christmas Baby.

Ellecyn Ann was born December 27th at 8:24 am to Ryan and Jodi of Appleton, MN. She was 20 inches long, weighed 7lbs 15oz, and was delivered by Dr. Stacy Longnecker. Pictured here with mom, dad and her big sisters, Harper and Ainsley. Congratulations!

Ortonville Area Health Services has been announced as one of America’s 100 Best Hospital for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. This evidence based designation is the only award that identifies the country’s best healthcare institutions based on Medicare data weighed according to the preference of women in a 2016 national survey of 1,000+ female respondents.

“Women are the Chief Medical Officer for the household, making upwards of 90% of all healthcare decisions. Considering she bears the responsibility of making these incredibly important decisions, the Women’s Choice Award offers a trusted solution by identifying the hospitals that have proven superior patient experience. Finally, a source that shares her values and priorities is available,” said Delia Passi, CEO and Founder of the Women’s Choice Award.

The list of award winners, including Ortonville Area Health Services represents hospitals that create an extraordinary patient experience for women and their families by providing exceptional care.

“Being recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals for patient experience speaks volumes to the work our Providers and Staff do here at Ortonville Area Health Services” Said OAHS CEO David Rogers. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to provide exceptional, patient-centered care to each and every person we care for.”

The America’s 100 Best Hospitals scoring process is unique in that it is the only national list that focuses on what matters most to women when choosing a hospital. For 2016, the most important considerations were patient’s willingness to recommend, doctor and nurse communications, staff help, pain management, cleanliness and explanation of medications, in that order.

The qualification process begins with scores derived by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for each hospital in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) database. Our national survey of women determines which questions in the HCAHPS survey, completed by patients after discharge, are most important to them in determining their satisfaction with their hospital stay. A weight is given to each of the most important questions.

The responses to those questions, weighted accordingly, results in a numeric score for each hospital reporting valid HCAHPS data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The scoring is totally objective and uniform. The best 100 scores in each of the four hospital bed size categories (less than 100 beds, 101-250 beds, 251-400 beds, and over 400 beds) determine the recipients of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Outstanding Patient Experience award.

For more information on the 2016 America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/awarded/best-hospitals/100s-best/