WCA ED & AB

Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center has been recognized by Women’s Choice Award for two of their top distinctions. 

The emergency department at Rockcastle Regional received the Women’s Choice Award for being one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care for the third year. 

Rockcastle Regional Hospital was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience in the nation among hospitals of similar bed size. This is the sixth consecutive year the organization has been a recipient of Women’s Choice Award’s most prestigious honor. 

“We are exceptionally proud to be recognized year-after-year for our commitment to our patients and their families,” said Stephen A. Estes, president and CEO of Rockcastle Regional Hospital. “Earning both of these awards is a testament to our dedication we have for providing excellent patient experiences in all levels of care.”

The methodology used to select Rockcastle Regional for both of these awards is unique in that it evaluates specific Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

The Women’s Choice Award collects the data for the following HCAHPS survey measures and uses a weighted average to award the best hospitals for each area:

Emergency Department

• Time to admission
• Time from admission to room
• Door to diagnosis

Criteria for selecting Rockcastle Regional’s emergency department as one of America’s best also included the:

• Average time before outpatients with chest pain or a possible heart attack received an ECG
• Average time patients with broken bones had to wait before getting pain medication

This award is especially significant given that long waits and high crowding can negatively impact patient outcomes, including patients leaving without receiving medical treatment, longer overall length of hospital stay, and an increase in mortality rates. 

Patient Experience

• Effective communication with nurses and doctors
• Responsiveness to requests for help
• Pain management
• Explanation about medications before being administered
• Bathroom and room cleanliness
• Patient recommendation rating

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, good patient experience positively correlates to disease management, adherence to treatment plans, and health outcomes.