Which Hospital is Best?
Doing your homework today improves positive outcomes tomorrow.
By Diane Meehl
During a rushed ride to the emergency room, a hospital’s incidences of infection rate or their accreditation level is the last thing on your mind. The primary goal is to get there––fast––and fix the problem. But when you can plan for a hospital stay, why not choose the one most uniquely qualified to deal with your particular needs and preferences?
Each day, some 500,000 patients are admitted into hospitals for care. And most are filled with capable clinicians and helpful staff ready to diagnose and repair what ails you. But the truth is––not all hospitals are equal in expertise, quality of care, amenities, and devotion to innovation. Sometimes as patients, we forget we’re also consumers with choices.
So, what makes a hospital earn its stripes, and how do consumers make the best decisions when planning is an option?
First, a little homework is in order. Begin by asking yourself the following questions, and then find answers by reviewing websites, rankings, or making calls to gather information:
- Does my surgery/treatment require a specialty only found at certain hospitals?
- Does my preferred practitioner have rights at the hospital and are their services covered under my insurance plan?
- Do I prefer to stay local, or, am I willing/able to travel to get premium care, or for post surgical support from family or friends?
- What are my primary priorities––patient care, clinical innovation, expertise, cleanliness, and/or reduced risk of infection?
Stats make a Statement
It’s worth a little legwork to check out how hospitals in your region measure up. Consumer Reports offers a hospital rating based on the following criteria:
Patient Experience. Patient references are worth their weight in gold. This service boils down the data collected from millions of patient surveys to assess recommendations. Participants are asked about the hospital’s patient care, pain control, caliber of accommodations, etc.
Patient outcomes. Re-admission rates signal red flags for a hospital’s caliber of clinical care. Based on data submitted by hospitals to the federal government, you can analyze their numbers, and also assess how they perform when it comes to preventing bloodstream and surgical-site infections.
Hospital Practices. There are two key practices that suggest the level of quality and value at hospitals. One is the usage of electronic health records to capture and share medical histories, patient data, and clinicians’ notes. The other involves the appropriate use of CT scanning to determine if they’ve been overprescribed.
Safety score. Unlike golf, a higher score is preferable here. This summary tabulates key components such as the proper use of scanning and measures taken to avoid complications, infection, and mortality.
Positive outcomes for surgical patients. Surgery itself can be anxiety inducing. And, things can go wrong. So a key component in measuring overall quality is found in mortality rates and longer stays for surgical patients.
There are many sources of information to sift through and learn more, including: The Commonwealth Fund, The Joint Commission, and Leapfrog Group. Just as you would read up on reviews for an attorney, accountant, or landscaper, doing a little detective work goes a long way toward prevention.
Data and Direction for Medicare Patients
Retirees worked long and hard to earn Medicare benefits, so make certain to source the best quality care available when it’s time to use them. First, find and compare hospitals where Medicare is accepted. Then, affirm you’re choosing the best practitioner and hospital that meets your varied needs. Use this checklist as a starting point:
- Compare hospitals and determine if Medicare is accepted and the surgery/treatment is covered. Visit the Hospital Compare web tool at www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.aspx.
- Check out the specific experience at each hospital related to your condition.
- Think about what’s important to your experience and healing––visiting hours, availability of chaplains, menu, privacy, location, etc.
- Formulate a list of questions. Remember, you’re the customer.
Your hospital stay will cost your precious resources––time and money. Ensure you’re investing wisely to achieve the very best outcome for a successful surgery, treatment, recovery, and improved quality of life.
A range of local hospitals serve your region. Take a look into a few options.
Texoma
Baylor Scott & White
Surgical Hospital at Sherman
(903) 870-0999
Committed to patient-centered care and innovative practices, Baylor Scott & White is a surgical center and Christian ministry. This non-profit health system with a network of physicians offers a holistic approach encompassing not only superior clinical care, but also a focus on spiritual support services.
Special Mention: Baylor Scott & White maintains an infection rate of .0002%.
Texoma Medical Center
(903) 416-4000
Serving North Texas and southern Oklahoma, Texoma Medical Center offers surgical care and treatment for a diverse range of health issues. The hospital offers the region’s only breast imaging center, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services, and robotic surgery for hysterectomies and gallbladder surgeries.
Special Mention: Also home to Reba’s Ranch House––yes, Reba McEntire of country music fame––where patients’ families can find accommodations, rest, and support while their loved ones undergo treatment at no cost. (Donations welcome)
Wilson N. Jones
Regional Medical Center
(903) 870-4611
Serving residents of North Texas and southern Oklahoma, Wilson N. Jones offers imaging services, cardiovascular care, and therapy services. Plus, the facility is home to specialized centers for stroke care, women’s care, and trauma centers, plus much more.
Special Mention: Chronic fatigue and lack of adequate sleep can have profound health consequences. WNJ is home to a sleep center where patients can undergo studies in private, comfortable settings to obtain diagnosis and treatment plans.
Collin County
Baylor Scott & White
1 (800) 4BAYLOR
Merging the Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare in 2013,
Baylor Scott & White offers a personalized approach to medicine. The largest non-profit health care system in Texas, the network encompasses 48 hospitals and some 5,500 physicians. Values include innovation, integrity, teamwork, and servanthood.
Special Mention: Baylor University Medical Center performed the first four live living donor uterine transplants performed in the United States in tandem with the Swedish surgical experts.
Medical City Frisco
(214) 618-0500
A campus of Medical City Plano, Medical City Frisco invested $41 million last year into capital improvements to broaden services. Offering general surgery, pediatric surgery orthopedics, bariatric services, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, Medical City Frisco recently expanded their cardiac services with a brand new catheterization lab.
Special Mention: Twenty-three Medical City Nurses across several campuses were named to DFW’s “The Great 100 Nurses” list in 2017.
Medical City McKinney
(972) 547-8000
While Medical City McKinney has been a fixture in the community for more than 90 years, they continue to build on their success through innovation and expansion. Recently MCM has added a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), an off-campus emergency department, and two surgical robots.
Special Mention: Specializing in joint care and replacement, MCM’s Total Hip Replacement and Total Knee Replacement programs were firsts in the area to receive the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.
Medical City Plano
(972) 596-6800
Offering Plano and Collin counties acute care services since 1975, Medical City Plano boasts more than 1,000 doctors covering 70 areas of specialties and sub-specialties. The central campus in Plano offers a Bariatric Surgery Center, a Level 2 trauma center, a wound-care center, and also opened the Burn & Reconstructive Center in 2015, a first for Collin County.
Special Mention: Medical City Plano is accredited by the Joint Commission, and also was the first hospital in Plano, Collins or Denton counties to receive the state’s Comprehensive Stroke Center accreditation.
Walnut Hill Medical Center
(972) 863-6000
Dallas’ new hospital, Walnut Medical Center pursues the intersection of compassion and technology to achieve a patient-centered focus. Physicians and support staff aim to consider lifestyle, cultural traditions, and personal preferences in tandem with a commitment to innovation. The hospital offers a range of services including gynecological, cardio and general surgery, spine and orthopedic services, and ER care.
Special Mention: Walnut Medical Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission’s national standards for hospital safety and health care quality.
Dallas County
Baylor Scott & White
1 (800) 4BAYLOR
Merging the Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare in 2013,
Baylor Scott & White offers a personalized approach to medicine. The largest non-profit health care system in Texas, the network encompasses 48 hospitals and some 5,500 physicians. Values include innovation, integrity, teamwork and servanthood.
Special Mention: Baylor University Medical Center performed the first four live living donor uterine transplants performed in the United States in tandem with the Swedish surgical experts.
Medical City Dallas
(972) 566-7000
With a bevy of accreditations, a stack of US News & World Report “Best Hospital” and other awards and designations as a desirable place to work, Medical City Dallas takes pride in a history of innovation and excellence. Patients have traveled from some 75 countries to seek treatment from specialists.
Special Mention: With a special focus on children, Medical City Dallas has earned distinction for its Kids Teaching Kids program, and was awarded Best Hospital Status for Pediatric Cancer Care.
Walnut Hill Medical Center
(972) 863-6000
Dallas’ new hospital, Walnut Medical Center pursues the intersection of compassion and technology to achieve a patient-centered focus. Physicians and support staff aim to consider lifestyle, cultural traditions, and personal preferences in tandem with a commitment to innovation. The hospital offers a range of services including gynecological, cardio and general surgery, spine and orthopedic services, and ER care.
Special Mention: Walnut Medical Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission’s national standards for hospital safety and health care quality.
Denton County
Baylor Scott & White
1 (800) 4BAYLOR
Merging the Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare in 2013,
Baylor Scott & White offers a personalized approach to medicine. The largest non-profit health care system in Texas, the network encompasses 48 hospitals and some 5,500 physicians. Values include innovation, integrity, teamwork and servanthood.
Special Mention: Baylor University Medical Center performed the first four live living donor uterine transplants performed in the United States in tandem with the Swedish surgical experts.
Medical City Denton
(940) 384-3535
Serving North Texas, Medical City Denton offers, among many other services and specialties, a full continuum of orthopedic and sports medicine care and rehabilitation. Plus, their Institute for Advanced Surgery & Technology implements cutting-edge, minimally invasive techniques, preformed by expert surgeons including the da Vinci Si Robotic Surgery System.
Special Mention: Leapfrog Group, a non-profit dedicated to improving transparency to improve hospital safety, awarded Medical City Denton an “A” rating in the spring of 2017.
Medical City Lewisville
(972) 420-1000
Serving a broad range of surrounding communities, Medical City Lewisville’s surgical expertise includes plastic cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, laser, vascular, urological surgeries, and dental and oral surgeries, to name a few. Patients are also empowered to manage their healthcare information via a patient portal system.
Special Mention: Medical City Lewisville is home to the area’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. New parents visiting the maternity ward are offered spacious birthing or luxury suites, a celebratory meal after baby arrives and same-sex partner support.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital
Flower Mound
(469) 322-7000
www.texashealthflowermound.com
In addition to a range of treatments, centers, and surgery to repair and heal, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital offer programs to educate the community on prevention and improved wellness. Those in search of weight loss options, programs, and support can find help at the Weight Loss Services Centers with offices in Denton, Frisco, and Flower Mound.
Special Mention: For five consecutive years, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was included in the Top 100 Best Places to Work by Modern Healthcare.
