Saint Anne’s Hospital receives the 2018 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics

Fall River, MA – For the second consecutive year, Saint Anne’s Hospital, in Fall River, has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics by the Women’s Choice Award®.

One of 374 award recipients representing hospitals that have met the highest standards for orthopedic care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award, Saint Anne’s award places it in the top 11% of 3,229 U.S. hospitals offering orthopedic services. It is the only hospital in Bristol County to earn this award.

This award is in addition to Saint Anne’s advanced certification for hip and knee replacement by The Joint Commission and designation as a “Blue Distinction Center+” for hip and knee replacement by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

“Saint Anne’s Center of Orthopedic Excellence has continued to grow by offering robotic-assisted surgery for knee and hip replacement and earning national recognitions for quality of care,” said hospital president Michael Bushell.

“Especially gratifying, though,” said Bushell, “is our patient satisfaction rating, which continues to be in the 99th percentile. From informational talks through pre-op patient education, surgery, and rehabilitation, our patients tell us time and again how much they value not only the clinical care but the personal attention they receive every step of the way of the joint replacement process. We are proud and grateful to our surgeons and staff who provide this high level of care.”

How women choose orthopedic services

According to a study reported in The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there are clear gender differences in musculoskeletal disease. 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

· high recommendation ratings

“Women have different orthopedics needs, particularly as they grow older and become more at risk for osteoporosis and fractures,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “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.”

How hospitals are chosen as America’s best by the Women’s Choice Award

The methodology used to select Saint Anne’s 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; and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections.

In addition, 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 both patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

For more information on the America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics, please visit womens choice award.