Penn State Children's Hospital at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center ranks higher than 90 percent of children's hospitals nationwide in inpatient patient satisfaction, according to Press Ganey, a satisfaction measurement company used by hospitals across the nation.
Penn State Children's Hospital also showed significantly improved patient satisfaction at two outpatient facilities: University Pediatrics on Cherry Drive, Hershey and Children's Heart Group on Nyes Road, Harrisburg. A faculty celebration held Monday on the front lawn of the Medical Center recognized Penn State Children's Hospital physicians and staff for their efforts.
Over the past year, Penn State Children's Hospital has worked diligently in several key areas to improve upon the experience of the patients and their families while at Penn State Children's Hospital. Two examples of this include patient meals and spiritual counseling. Now, pediatric patients have more choices when it comes to their favorites including pizza, hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese. A new chaplain recruited specifically for Children's Hospital provides families with increased spiritual and emotional support.
"We couldn't have done it without the help of our patients and families," said Craig Hillemeier, medical director and chair, Penn State Children's Hospital. "Over the past year, we've developed key advisory boards composed of patients, families and staff that discuss ways we can improve our services. The leadership shown throughout Penn State Children's Hospital, which has allowed us to achieve this high level of patient satisfaction, has been truly extraordinary."
Sheila Smith, director of nursing, Penn State Children's Hospital, credits the efforts of the multidisciplinary team in making Penn State Children's Hospital a highly satisfied patient facility.
The following Penn State Children's Hospital physicians were named as the Top 10 Patient Satisfaction Physicians from July 2003 to June 2004: Mark Baker, general pediatrics; Andrew Freiberg, hematology/oncology; Brandt Groh, rheumatology; Roger Ladda, genetics; John Myers, cardiovascular surgery; John Neely, hematology/oncology; Barbara Ostrov, rheumatology; Daniel Rifkin, pulmonology; Diane Schuller, allergy/immunology; and Steven Wassner, nephrology.
Penn State Children's Hospital, the only children's hospital in central Pennsylvania and the region's only pediatric trauma center, houses 120 beds and admits more than 5,500 patients each year. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) received the highest rating for its care in medical, surgical and trauma patients by the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Evaluations. This ranks the PICU among the top in the country.
Children's Hospital is the leader in several specialties including neonatal care, pediatric oncology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery and pediatric trauma.
For a photo, check http://www.hmc.psu.edu/news/pr/