Media Release

Contact: Dennis Mathis, Public Relations Coordinator, San Juan Regional Medical Center, 505-324-2238 or email dmathis@sjrmc.net

FARMINGTON NM (March 28, 2008) A nationwide survey released on Friday, March 28, measuring patients' experiences in hospitals across the county, gives San Juan Regional Medical Center high marks. The results are posted on the Hospital Compare website at www.HospitalCompare.hhs.gov.

Most of the questions on the survey ask the patient to report how frequently something occurred – always, usually or never. The results are reported as ten composite scores and compared to the New Mexico average and the nationwide average for hospitals. Here are the reported results for San Juan Regional Medical Center:

Category	SJRMC "Always"	NM "Always"	US "Always"
Communication with nurses	72%	69%	73%
Communication with doctors	80%	76%	79%
Responsiveness of hospital staff	64%	59%	60%
Pain Management	67%	64%	67%
Communication about medicines	53%	54%	58%
Cleanliness of environment	64%	64%	68%
Quietness of environment	63%	51%	54%
Discharge Information (yes)	81%	76%	79%
Overall rating	62%	57%	63%
Willing to recommend (definitely)	70%	60%	67%

The survey was conducted by the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA), a national organization of hospital groups, consumer representatives, oversight organizations and government agencies. The survey data, collected from a random sample of discharged patients, provides a nationally standardized look at key aspects of care – from the nursing care to the cleanliness of patient rooms to how often a doctor carefully listened to them – that are of interest to many patients.

San Juan Regional Medical Center participated voluntarily in the survey as part of their continuing efforts to be even more transparent to about their quality of care, and to help consumers be active partners in their care. According to Steve Altmiller, CEO of San Juan Regional Medical Center, "A patient’s perception of their experience is an important part of the care they receive, and we hope this information helps engage patients even more in their care."

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey supplements the clinical data previously posted on the Hospital Compare website. While the clinical data focused on steps taken to provide the right care to the right patient, as well as mortality rates for certain patients, this new data will address patients' experiences of their healthcare. Combining the clinical data with the patient experience data will give consumers a broader look at hospital care.

Altmiller had this comment on the survey results, "We are proud that San Juan Regional's performance, according to the HCAHPS survey, exceeds the average scores for New Mexico hospitals, and, in many cases, exceeds the average scores for U.S. hospitals. However, improving patient care is an on-going process. That’s why we participate in numerous quality improvement programs and support and participate in surveys such as the HCAHPS survey."