For the second year in a row, Effingham Health System has been named a “Top Hospital in Georgia.” This recognition is from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the government agencies that make it possible for millions of Americans to receive healthcare.

 Once again, Effingham Health System received the center’s only four-star rating in the Greater Savannah Area, including Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Bulloch and Liberty counties in Georgia, and Beaufort County, South Carolina.

“We were excited to receive this recognition for 2017 but receiving it for the second year (2018) in a row is even more important, because it shows consistency in the quality of care and patient outcomes we are delivering to our patients.” said Fran Baker-Witt, Effingham Health System CEO.

She added, “I appreciate the support I receive from our board of directors, the commitment of our leadership team and the work of every one of our employees, as we focus on transforming healthcare for our community.”

Baker-Witt explained that direct comparison with other hospitals is difficult, since hospitals vary in size and types of service. Most importantly, she said, is that this reward is a reflection of the consistancy of care that patients receive at Effingham Health System.

Hospital Compare is an online service (medicare.gov/hospitalcompare) that assists patients in making decisions about where they can receive health care. It also encourages hospitals to improve the quality of care they provide.

The CMS rating is based on multiple measurements for patient safety, clinical care, communication, patient engagement, and fiscal efficiencies. Insight on the patient experience is gathered through extensive patient surveys.