VCU Medical Center Awarded Consumer Choice Award for Eighth Time

By Eric Peters

For the second consecutive year, the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center has received a Consumer Choice Award for providing quality health care services based on an independent survey of central Virginia residents. This is the eighth time the health system has received the award.

The National Research Corporation presented the award following a nationwide survey of hospital consumers’ perceptions of the local health care facilities they use. Participants rated the facilities on a variety of factors including overall quality of patient care, quality of doctors and nurses and overall image and reputation.

"To receive this award for the second year in a row is gratifying because it means our patients and their families recognize and appreciate our resolute commitment to their care,” said Sheldon Retchin, M.D., VCU Health System CEO and senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences. “Our distinction as Virginia’s No. 1 hospital is enhanced by this award, which acknowledges the devoted efforts of our physicians, nurses and staff to provide extraordinary care every day.”

The VCU Medical Center is included in U.S. News & World Reports’ top hospital listings – ranked No. 1 in Virginia in 2012 – and is among an elite group of about 200 health care organizations worldwide that have been awarded Magnet status for nursing excellence in national and international health care. The VCU Medical Center has eight times been named one of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies and four times a Greater Richmond Employer of Choice.  It has also received the national Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.

National Research Corporation surveyed more 250,000 households representing more than 450,000 consumers. From the households surveyed, 3,200 hospitals named by consumers are analyzed and ranked based on their Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, with the winning facilities being ranked the highest.