ECMC Receives 2018 Women’s Choice Award© as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery and Orthopedics
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation has been named as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery and Orthopedics by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The Bariatric Surgery award signifies that ECMC is in the top 9% of 4,812 U.S. hospitals reviewed. The Orthopedics award signifies that ECMC is in the top 11% of 3,230 U.S. hospitals offering orthopedic services.
ECMC Corporation President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D. said, “These awards for bariatric surgery and orthopedics from the Women’s Choice Award® affirm ECMC’s commitment to providing quality healthcare for those who seek our services. Reliable, quality care and positive patient experiences are our highest priorities, demonstrated by our more than 3,000 exceptional and skilled caregivers who are dedicated to providing True Care to our patients.”
The methodology for the bariatric surgery award 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 bariatric surgery based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
ECMC is one of 422 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for bariatric surgery across the U.S. ECMC achieved the America’s Best distinction by meeting the following criteria: accreditation by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery joint-sponsored Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP); at least 72% of patients reporting on the HCAPHS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital; a high patient safety ranking based on 11 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates.
Women’s Choice Award Founder and CEO Delia Passi said of the Bariatric Award, “As the FDA approves more bariatric procedures and treatment options increase, the Women’s Choice Award is helping women make educated, confident decisions about where they should go to get the very best care. There are many women who struggle with their weight, especially as they age. For some, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough and they need to turn to bariatric procedures to reduce their weight for their overall good health.”
An American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery study found that the risk of death from any cause is considerably less for bariatric patients than for individuals affected by severe obesity who have never had the surgery. The data shows that cancer mortality is reduced by 60 percent for bariatric surgery patients and death as a result of diabetes and heart disease is reduced by more than 90 percent and 50 percent, respectively. For more information on the America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery visit womenschoiceaward.com
Regarding orthopedics, 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, and high recommendation ratings.
Women’s Choice Award founder and CEO Delia Passi said of the Orthopedics Award, “Women have different orthopedics needs, particularly as they grow older and become more at risk for osteoporosis and fractures. They also have different healthcare preferences, which we use to evaluate the recipients of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics. We are the only award that recognizes a hospital’s ability to meet women’s distinctive needs.”
ECMC is one of 357 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for orthopedic care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award. The methodology used to select ECMC 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 womenschoiceaward.com
ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 583 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD©: The Women’s Choice Award® is a trusted referral source, empowering women to make smart healthcare choices by identifying the country’s best healthcare institutions based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The Women’s Choice Award was recently honored by the INC 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2017 for a third consecutive year. Visit womenschoiceaward.com to learn more.
The information contained in this release is not permitted to be used in a non-press related context without the express prior written consent of the Women’s Choice Award.