Shawnee Mission Health Earns Five-Star Quality Rating from CMS's New Hospital Compare

Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC) earned five stars from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) new Hospital Compare website, the highest possible rating. SMMC is the only hospital in the Kansas City metropolitan area to be awarded five stars, an accomplishment that only 2.2 percent of the 4,600 U.S. hospitals surveyed achieved.

The overall rating includes 60 of the more than 100 measures reported to Medicare. Hospital Compare divides the measures into seven categories: mortality, the safety of care, readmission, patient experience, the effectiveness of care, timeliness of care, and efficient use of medical imaging. Along with the overall rating, Hospital Compare includes information on many important aspects of quality, such as rates of infection, complications and patients experiences, all based on survey results.

"We are committed to providing the highest quality and compassionate patient care throughout the Shawnee Mission Health network," said Chief Medical Officer Larry Botts, MD. "We are proud to be the only hospital in the Kansas City area to achieve five stars, which is a testament to the work of our dedicated nurses, physicians, and our entire staff."

This is the first time CMS has revealed an overall star rating for hospitals, which is meant to provide a starting point for comparing a hospital to others locally and nationwide. While patients are encouraged to seek the nearest hospital in case of an emergency, Hospital Compare provides a place for those who are able to plan ahead to research their options.

"There are many ways to evaluate hospitals and many different quality ratings that are meant to help patients make informed decisions," said Administrative Director of Quality and Safety Lori K. Clayman, RN, BSN, MA, CPHQ. "In addition to the five-star rating from CMS Hospital Compare, we've earned an A Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group six consecutive times and have many highly ranked specialty areas."

To see how SMMC's score compares locally and nationally, visit the Hospital Compare website at Medicare.gov/HospitalCompare.