Asante hospitals awarded CMS five-star quality rating

The highest rating was granted to only three Oregon hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced its 2018 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, and two Asante hospitals have earned five stars — the highest rating awarded.

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and Asante Three Rivers Medical Center accounted for two of just three Oregon hospitals to achieve a five-star rating. Asante Ashland Community Hospital received four stars. Nationally, only 6.5 percent of eligible Medicare-certified hospitals have earned this distinction.

The new ratings are posted on CMS’s Hospital Compare website.

For its overall hospital ratings, CMS examines key quality measures under seven categories: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and efficient use of medical imaging.

Asante hospitals met the standards in all those areas, including preventing infections and readmissions, delivering safe patient care and providing a great patient experience.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our clinical leaders, physicians, nurses, clinical staff members, and everyone who comes into contact with a patient,” said Asante President and CEO Scott Kelly.

CMS introduced its overall hospital quality star ratings in July 2016. Publication of the 2018 ratings was delayed until March while CMS revised its methodology.

Of the 62 Oregon hospitals evaluated, 22 earned a four-star rating; 23 received three stars and four two stars.