FORT MOHAVE–Valley View Medical Center officials gathered outside the main entrance Monday to announce their hospital was the proud recipient of the 2018 Women’s Choice Award as America’s Best Hospital for Patient Safety.

Dr. Richard Benedict, the hospital’s chief of staff, was joined by VVMC Board of Trustee chairwoman Rhonda Letcher as they unveiled the banner.

“The award is tithing connected back to the hard work that happens every day at our hospital,” said Feliciano Jiron, CEO of Valley View Medical Center. “That is the work that each and everyone of our employee’s do to make our facility a place patients come to for their health care, where employees want to work and physician’s want to practice. I’d like to give our employees a round of applause for all their hard work and dedication.”

According to a press release, the methodology used to select Valley View Medical Center as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety is unique in that it evaluates 11 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) measures of infections and complications, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in patient safety based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

The award recognizes safe surgery practices and lower rates for complications and infections.

“The recipients of the America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety award have led the country by implementing safe practices that have ultimately saved lives,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “This recognition is critical for women as they make 80 percent of healthcare decisions and need to know they are putting themselves—and their family members—in safe hands.”

The release also noted healthcare has made significant strides in patient safety in the recent years.

“I am honored to represent the board of trustees of Valley View hospital,” said Rhonda Letcher. “Fellicano always says to me if “Momma isn’t happy, ain’t no one happy”, well guess what momma’s are happy with this award.”

Hospital-acquired conditions declined 21 percent from 2010 to 2015, resulting in 125,000 fewer patient deaths according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospital-acquired conditions are conditions that a patient develops while in the hospital being treated for something else.

“By receiving this award it signifies that Valley View is in the top 15 percent (of 3,179 U.S. hospitals) in the nation of hospital safety, as well as met the need of high standards for our women patients. Valley View Medical Center is the only hospital in Arizona to be chosen as the recipient of the 2018 Women’s Choice Award,” Letcher said.

To receive the award, hospitals must also use an Inpatient Safe Surgery Checklist to assess effective communication and safe practices during three perioperative periods: prior to administration of anesthesia; prior to skin incision; and prior to the patient leaving the operating room or procedural area.

Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady and Mohave County District Supervisor’s Lois Wakimoto and Hildy Angius were in attendance Monday morning during the reveal.

“You have mine and Bullhead City’s undivided and outstanding congratulations,” said Brady. “So thank you so very much for your dedication. I must say that I have a good knowledge of Valley View Medical Center. My wife (Karen) spent nine years on the board and was intimately involved in many of the decisions made. She informs me of all her knowledge that Valley View Medical is one of the most outstanding hospitals that she has ever seen or been a part of.”

“Earning the Women’s Choice Award® for America’s Best Hospitals in patient safety is a testament to our ongoing commitment to families within our community,” said Jiron. “This award is extra special to us because we had to earn it from our community. In fact, only the hospitals that achieve a high level of patient satisfaction criteria from their patients, are eligible to earn the award and we are so proud of that accomplishment.”

For more information about the America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, visit https://www.womenschoiceaward.com/awarded/healthcare/