Frisbie Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that it is the only hospital in the Greater Seacoast region and one of only three of the 26 acute care hospitals in N.H. to have been given the highest overall rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Hospitals receiving the five-star rating, such as Frisbie Memorial Hospital, perform above average overall to hospitals across the country on quality measures, such as safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience, and efficient use of medical imaging. Of the 4,000 hospitals nationwide, fewer than 10 percent receive the five-star rating.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services instituted the Hospital Compare overall rating for patients to use to compare a hospital to others so that they may choose a hospital that aligns with their preferences and healthcare needs. The Hospital Compare overall rating summarizes how hospitals performed on 57 of the more than 100 quality measures, which are divided into seven categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care, efficient use of medical imaging, and unplanned hospital visits.

In addition, Frisbie had earned its fifth “A” rating in a row for patient safety in the Spring 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, The Hospital Safety Grade rates hospitals on overall performance in keeping patients safe from injuries, infections and errors. Hospitals that earn an “A” rating have in place strict protocols to prevent patient injuries, such as surgical safety checklists and fall prevention initiatives, and perform above average overall in keeping patients safe compared to those receiving a lower grade.

Frisbie was recognized also as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety earning the 2018 Women’s Choice Award. The distinguished designation identifies the country’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction, clinical performance, patient recommendation rating, and what women say they want from a hospital. This is the second year in a row that Frisbie has received the Women’s Choice Award for Patient Safety.

In addition, Frisbie Memorial Hospital earned top ratings in the state on its HCAHPS patient satisfaction surveys for nurse communication and doctor communication; Frisbie was the top performer in the state in which patients reported that their doctors and nurses “Always” communicated well. The HCAHPS Survey measures patients’ overall experience during their hospital stay. Measures include how well nurses and doctors communicated with the patient, staff responsiveness to patient needs, how well the hospital managed pain, and the cleanliness and quietness of the hospital environment.