2023 Women's Choice Award

Wood County Hospital has been named again as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery  and additionally one of America’s Best in Emergency Care by the Women’s Choice Award® -America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Wood County Hospital is in the top 4% of 4,729 U.S. hospitals reviewed.​​​​​​​

BARIATRICS

Obesity is a common disease in the US, and many women are finding it’s a struggle to get their weight down and to stay down. Bariatric surgery is a safe option for some, especially those with high BMI or underlying health conditions. Losing extra weight can help eliminate or stabilize other conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, acid reflux, depression and sleep problems. In addition, bariatric surgery greatly reduces the risk of death from cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other diseases.

The methodology for the bariatric surgery award combines national accreditations, patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

• Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) as part of the joint-sponsored Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP)
• At least 70% of patients reporting on the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital
• A high patient safety ranking based on 12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates 

Wood County Hospital is one of 406 award recipients representing hospitals that have met the highest standards for bariatric surgery across the U.S.

“There are many women who struggle with their weight, especially as they get older. For some, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough, and they need to turn to bariatric surgery to reduce their weight for their overall health,” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “As a family’s chief caregiver, it is important for women to keep their own health in top shape, and we help her by letting her know where to go for the best bariatric surgery.”

EMERGENCY CARE

Each year, more than 130 million emergency room visits happen in the U.S. Emergency departments continue to be an essential part of the healthcare system as they provide fast, life-or-limb-saving care to millions each year.  

“Emergency departments can be very stressful environments, particularly for the elderly or a mother with a sick or injured child,” said Passi. “Women make or influence 94% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and others. They want to be confident that they know which emergency departments in their communities will take care of their loved ones quickly and with the best possible care.” 

The Emergency Care award combines primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. The award recognizes excellence in the time patients spent in the emergency department, including:

• Total time spent in the emergency department
• Percent of emergency patients who left without being seen
• Percentage of patients who came to the emergency department with stroke symptoms who received brain scan results within 45 minutes of arrival

The awarded hospitals represent those with emergency departments with average measure times in the country’s highest 25th to 50th percentile. 

“Wood County not only performed well clinically concerning emergency care measures, but they also have a high recommendation rating, which is very important to women regarding health-related decisions,” says Passi.  

For the full list of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery and Emergency Care, visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/