The Westerly Hospital is rated as the cleanest hospital in the state according to the most recent patient satisfaction data available through HCAHPS, a government survey for measuring patient satisfaction at hospitals across the country.
The HCAHPS survey is sponsored by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), both of which are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Survey data is available via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s “Hospital Compare” website (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov).
A Hospital’s cleanliness is important not only for infection control but also for Medicare reimbursements. In fact, Medicare will pay more to hospitals that have high patient satisfaction and quality metrics in areas like cleanliness, and less to those who have lower scores.
Unlike many Hospitals that outsource their housekeeping services, The Westerly Hospital housekeeping services are performed by Westerly Hospital staff, some of whom have been with the Hospital between 25 and 30 years. The department is overseen by John Lidestri who himself has been with the Hospital 34 years.
Said Lidestri, “The Hospital’s housekeeping department operates on three basic requirements - well trained, dedicated and committed staff; the use of effective products and efficient equipment; and adherence to well developed procedures and processes.”
Among these processes is an established frequency for cleaning various areas throughout the hospital, as well as a procedure for monitoring cleanliness to ensure quality and infection control standards are met.
The Westerly Hospital is rated as the cleanest hospital in the state according to the most recent patient satisfaction data available through HCAHPS, a government survey for measuring patient satisfaction at hospitals across the country.
The HCAHPS survey is sponsored by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), both of which are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Survey data is available via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s “Hospital Compare” website (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov).
A Hospital’s cleanliness is important not only for infection control but also for Medicare reimbursements. In fact, Medicare will pay more to hospitals that have high patient satisfaction and quality metrics in areas like cleanliness, and less to those who have lower scores.
Unlike many Hospitals that outsource their housekeeping services, The Westerly Hospital housekeeping services are performed by Westerly Hospital staff, some of whom have been with the Hospital between 25 and 30 years. The department is overseen by John Lidestri who himself has been with the Hospital 34 years.
Said Lidestri, “The Hospital’s housekeeping department operates on three basic requirements - well trained, dedicated and committed staff; the use of effective products and efficient equipment; and adherence to well developed procedures and processes.”
Among these processes is an established frequency for cleaning various areas throughout the hospital, as well as a procedure for monitoring cleanliness to ensure quality and infection control standards are met.