Reprint from the Progress Times - July 11, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Maternity care at Missino Regional ranked at the top

 

By David Rodriguez

For the fourth consecutive year, Mission Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has been recognized with a Five-Star rating for clinical excellence in maternity care by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. The study ranked MRMC in the top five percent in the nation for maternity care services.

Director of Maternity Health Services for MRMC, Jane Cipriano, says it’s teamwork that has made the hospital so successful.

“Our nurses are highly educated and experienced and they work with the doctors as a team,” said Cipriano. “Communication is the key between doctors and nurses and it’s the teamwork we have here that has made the difference. We’ve worked very hard here to make sure that our doctors and nurses speak the same language. Our doctors here feel comfortable addressing any issues with the nurses. If you don’t work as a team you have errors.”

The awards the MRMC maternity care department has received has reached the public as well. Brenda Trevino, who delivered her baby at Mission Regional, had nothing but the best to say about the care she received.

“I chose to deliver my baby at Mission Regional Medical Center because of its reputation as a Five-Star rated maternity center,” said Trevino. “When the time came to deliver my baby, I received excellent care from the nurses. They catered to my every need. My obstetrician, Dr. Gretchen Velasco, was also wonderful. My husband and I had a great experience at Mission Regional Medical Center.”

For its 2008/2009 ratings, HealthGrades analyzed the quality of maternity care at hospitals in the 17 states that publish outcomes data. The corporation assessed these facilities’ clinical performance and quality. HealthGrades analyzed over 12.5 million hospital delivery and neonate records from over 1,440 hospitals.

The HealthGrades rating system divides maternity care ratings into three categories of ratings. The poorest rating is One-Star which represents the bottom 15 percent of all hospitals within 17 states. A Three-Star rating represents the middle 70 percent of all hospitals and a Five-Star rating represents the top 15 percent of all hospitals within 17 states.

Mission Regional Medical Center CEO Javier Iruegas says the community itself should take pride in the latest award given to the hospital.

“It is an honor to once again receive this distinction from HealthGrades,” said Iruegas. “What could be better for our community than to know that highly regarded, independent source has determined that Mission Regional Medical Center overall clinical quality for our maternity patients is at an exceptional level compared to hospitals nationwide? Everyone throughout our organization and in the community should take pride in this tremendous accomplishment.”