One of Only Two Chosen Out of 580 Emergency Departments Nationwide

New York City, NY, (September 19, 2005) -- Montefiore Medical Center’s Weiler Division Emergency Department has been awarded the prestigious 2005 Compass Award recognizing improvement in patient satisfaction. Montefiore was one of two hospitals recognized out of 580 participating EDs that treat 30,000 or more patients annually.
Press Ganey Associates is a national firm and leader in health care improvement and patient satisfaction measurement and gives the award.

“We keep patients happy and comfortable, and they are seen quickly by board certified emergency department physicians,” said Peter Semczuk, vice president of Clinical Services at Montefiore.  “We have transformed our EDs into models of emergency care where patients and families tell us they are well treated and well cared for.”

“This award acknowledges those organizations that demonstrate a commitment to using patient satisfaction data to improve the quality of healthcare,” said Mel Hall, PhD, president of Press Ganey.  “We congratulate Montefiore for making the organizational changes that have produced these impressive results.”

Montefiore Medical Center’s three emergency departments have been ranked by the American Hospital Association as the seventh busiest in the nation, seeing a record 180,00 patients this past year.  In 2000, the Weiler Division registered 38,100 patients. In 2005 the number of projected ED visits is 53,000.

“We have adopted a new five-track ED system that dramatically cuts down waiting times, allowing patients with minor ailments to be seen in a separate Fast Track ED area with its own medical staff,” said Semczuk.

“To make patients more comfortable in our EDs, we have also adopted a range of new initiatives to provide more personal TLC,” he said. “For example, doctors prop up patients with pillows and nurses roll out a beverage cart for waiting patients and families and bring them hot meals at lunch and diner.”

“All staff members greet patients with their names and describe their occupation and duties so patients and their families know who we are,” Semczuk said.  “As a result patient satisfaction is at an all time high.”

The TLC doesn’t stop in the ED; Montefiore also has initiated a patient call-back program to see how each patient is doing once they are back at home.

Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, ranks among the top one percent of all US hospitals based on its investments in medical innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Montefiore invests more in order to enable compassionate, personalized care and the most positive outcomes for patients and their families in New York, the tri-state area and beyond.
Montefiore’s unique combination of ‘state-of-the-art’ technology with ‘state-of-the-heart’ medical and nursing care in a teaching and research environment provides patients with access to world-class medical experts, the newest and most innovative treatments and the best medical center experience anywhere. 

This 1,062 bed medical center includes the Henry and Lucy Moses Division, the Jack D. Weiler Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, a large home healthcare agency and a 21-site medical group practice located throughout the Bronx and nearby Westchester.

Montefiore treats all major illnesses and has distinguished centers of excellence in cardiology and cardiac surgery, cancer care, tissue and organ transplantation, children's health, women's health, surgery and the surgical subspecialties.  Montefiore Medical Center focuses on providing family-centered healthcare in a nurturing environment that extends well beyond its hospital and ambulatory settings.