For the third year in a row, Mount Desert Island Hospital has been named a national award winner for overall patient satisfaction. The award, based on patient surveys conducted last year by the consulting firm Avatar International, Inc., recognizes the Hospital’s combined patients satisfaction scores across all areas of care.
“We’re pleased once again to be recognized in this manner,” said Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, Art Blank. “But as we have maintained for three years now, the real reward comes in the form of satisfied patients.”
The Hospital was also recognized by Avatar for improving care in the outpatient arena, between 2003 and 2004, and for exceeding patient expectations during 2004. “Outpatient care is an area of significant growth for us, so it is especially pleasing to learn that our patients recognize our focus on quality,” said Blank. Hospital outpatient services include laboratory, medical imaging, orthopedics, cardiac rehab, and diabetes education.
“After a century of quality care, our patients have come to expect a great deal of us,” said Blank. “So the award for exceeding their expectations is further validation of our on-going efforts to improve quality,” added Blank. “We believe that measuring our community’s expectations is an important way to give them the voice they deserve in the care we provide.”
“Quality management and improvement has been a cornerstone of the MDI Hospital organization for more than a century,” added Mr. Blank. “In fact, we recently added the position of Vice President of Quality Management to our leadership team,” Blank explained.
Ruth Lyons, RN-C, the former Division Director of Rehab and Medical Services, and a 25-year veteran of the Hospital, was recently promoted to the newly created position. “We’re fortunate to have a professional of Ruth’s stature and experience overseeing our quality improvement efforts,” said Blank. “Ruth brings a quality focus to this leadership position that will benefit all of our patients.
“By giving our patients a voice in the care they receive, and using this feedback to adapt services and processes, we are taking steps every day to meet and exceed our patients’ expectations.”