HIGHLIGHTS: In the largest independent survey of its type in the nation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been named a Quality Leader for providing healthcare services most preferred by consumers. This marks the fifth two-year period in a row that the hospital has been identified as Southern California's gold standard in healthcare. In addition to being chosen the most preferred healthcare facility in the Los Angeles service area, consumers responding to the most recent Market Guide study also placed Cedars-Sinai first in six key categories: Best overall quality, best doctors, best nurses, most personalized care, hospital ad recall, and best image and reputation. The award was given by National Research Corporation, a national leader in the healthcare performance measurement industry, and reflects the opinions expressed by Los Angeles area residents who participated in a survey about comprehensive healthcare services. National Research Corporation surveys nearly 170,000 homes nationwide each year; Cedars-Sinai ranked as the preferred healthcare provider in the greater Los Angeles region.
LOS ANGELES, CA - In the largest independent survey of its type in the nation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has been named a Quality Leader for providing healthcare services most preferred by consumers. This marks the fifth two-year period in a row that the hospital has been identified by consumers as Southern California's gold standard in healthcare. The hospital has been named a Quality Leader for being the hospital most preferred for overall healthcare services by Los Angeles residents. The award was given by National Research Corporation, which introduced performance norms to the healthcare industry, and has conducted more healthcare satisfaction studies than any other firm. Cedars-Sinai's receipt of this Quality Leader Award was determined by the results of the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of healthcare performance.
In addition to being chosen the most preferred healthcare facility in the greater Los Angeles region, consumers responding to the most recent Healthcare Market Guide study also placed Cedars-Sinai first in six key categories: Best overall quality, best doctors, best nurses, most personalized care, hospital ad recall, and best image and reputation. "The Los Angeles market has a number of outstanding facilities, but clearly in the consumers' minds Cedars-Sinai is thought of as being at the top of the list," says Phil Richmond, spokesman for National Research Corporation, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. "In our surveys over the past 10 years, consumers have consistently rated Cedars-Sinai higher than any other hospital in the area."
While most "ratings" are done by magazine and publication editors -- which means that terms and standards can vary from one publication to another -- National Research Corporation evaluates the nation's major healthcare providers by talking to the people most concerned -- those who have to make daily healthcare decisions for their families. Representative homes are chosen in each marketplace to be sure that all income levels and ethnic demographics are represented in the survey. The goal is to provide household healthcare decision-makers with information they can understand and use, rather than to produce a clinical report card, which often is difficult for those not directly involved in the healthcare industry to understand.
"We are honored and pleased that people within our community have identified Cedars-Sinai as their hospital of choice for providing overall healthcare services," says Tom Priselac, CEO of the medical center. "Our goal is to provide outstanding healthcare that is accessible and convenient, and it is gratifying to know that our community values and appreciates our physicians and staff, as well as the quality of care we offer."
While appreciative of the community's vote of confidence in Cedars-Sinai, Priselac doesn't back away from his commitment to continuous quality improvement. "Even though our customers have ranked us number one, we recognize that there is always room for growth and improvement," he says. "We continue to strive for even better performances as we move into the next century."
Nearly 170,000 households in 48 states responded to a questionnaire designed to track the performance of healthcare organizations from the consumer's perspective. The results of the study provide information about physician accessibility, overall medical care and physician-patient relationships.
"The award reflects the importance and value of consumers' perspectives," says Michael Langberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Cedars-Sinai. "Consumer education is vitally important in order for people to make well-informed choices about their healthcare. Studies such as this one are extremely valuable as they make information readily available to consumers."
Dr. Langberg encourages individuals to ask questions and assess comprehensive services when choosing a hospital or physician. "It is important to gather information and then make an educated decision," he says. When selecting a doctor or service provider, he suggests the following tips:
1. Request information on a doctor's education, training and experience. Find out if the physician can address your health concerns and the needs of other members of your family. Many hospitals, including Cedars-Sinai, offer a free physician referral service which can not only put you in touch with the type of doctor you need, but can also provide you with background information. To call the Cedars-Sinai Physician Referral service, dial 1-800-CEDARS1 (1-800-233-2771).
2. When appropriate, ask if the doctor is board certified or has had comparable training. Although all physicians must be licensed to practice medicine, certification means that he or she has completed several years of training in a specialty and has passed a rigorous examination. The American Board of Medical Specialties can be reached by calling 1-800-776-2378. Certification information may also be obtained by visiting their website at www.certifieddoctor.org, or by looking up the "Directory of Medical Specialists," at your local library. This reference has professional and biographic information on nearly 400,000 practicing physicians. The American Medical Association also offers free physician information via "AMA Physician Select" on the Internet. You can visit their website at www.ama-assn.org.
3. Find out if complaints have been registered or if disciplinary actions have been taken against a physician. In California, this information is available by calling the Medical Board of California at 1-800-633-2322. If you prefer, you can also visit their website at www.medbd.ca.gov.
4. Get acquainted. Take some time to get to know your physician or healthcare provider by arranging a "get acquainted" visit. This visit will offer a chance to personally speak with the doctor about your specific healthcare needs.
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:
Michael Langberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
For media information and to arrange an interview, please call 1-800-396-1002.
(Please do not publish this number in stories.)