HASTINGS — Mary Lanning Healthcare is one of only three hospitals in the region to receive a four-star quality rating from Hospital Compare, part of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Initiative.
MLH is the only non-critical access hospital in the region to receive the four-star rating. Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva and Thayer County Hospital in Hebron, both critical access hospitals, also received the designation.
CMS scores hospitals on 57 quality measures across seven categories: Mortality, Safety of Care, Readmission, Patient Experience, Effectiveness of Care, Timeliness of Care and Efficient Use of Medical Imaging. MLH scored “Above the National Average” in four categories and “Same as the National Average” in three categories. MLH received no “Below the National Average” scores. CMS visits hospitals annually to perform on-site inspections.
Eric Barber, MLH President & CEO, said the four-star ranking illustrates a commitment to quality by the entire MLH staff.
“This ranking shows that we have a staff that is truly engaged and working constantly to create the best patient experience possible in a safe environment,” Barber said.
CMS created its quality rating system to help consumers, their families and caregivers compare hospitals more easily and help identify areas in which consumers may want to ask questions.
Megan Marble, MLH Director of Quality Services, said MLH, a non-profit, independent hospital, has always represented high quality standards to the community and region. So, she said, it should come as no surprise that MLH ranks highly with CMS.
“At Mary Lanning, we are working continuously to improve processes and create relationships with our patients and their families,” Marble said. “Whatever we can do to make a stay in the hospital easier, safer and less stressful, we will do it. Everyone here is committed to high standards and great care.”
Of the 4,586 hospitals nationwide eligible for a star rating 407 received five stars; 1,136 received four stars; 1,119 received three stars; 710 received two stars and 228 received one star. CMS did not assign ratings to 986 hospitals.