Four ScionHealth Hospitals Earn ‘Platinum Award’ ‒ Company’s Top Honor for Hospital Quality

Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) was one of four ScionHealth hospitals to earn the 2024 Platinum Award, the highest honor of ScionHealth's National Quality Program. Pictured at the May 13 presentation in Watertown, WI are Suzie Feuling, Director of Quality and Patient Safety, WRMC; Jess Nass, RN, WRMC; Danny Brywczynski, COO, ScionHealth; Amy Wetterling, Pharmacist, WRMC; Richard Keddington, CEO, WRMC; Jill Frederickson, Quality Analyst/LPN, WRMC; Russell Pigg, President, Community Hospitals, ScionHealth; and Patty Gedemer, CNO, WRMC.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (May 14, 2025) – Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (Hartsville, South Carolina), Kindred Hospital Clear Lake (Webster, Texas), Kindred Hospital Paramount (California) and Watertown Regional Medical Center (Wisconsin) were honored this month as winners of ScionHealth’s “Platinum Award” ‒ the highest honor for clinical quality as part of the company’s National Quality Strategy. ScionHealth leaders presented the awards during separate ceremonies at each of the hospital locations. ScionHealth owns 85 hospitals on campuses across 28 states.

“These four hospitals distinguished themselves among ScionHealth’s 85 hospitals across the country, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to delivering the highest quality care in the safest possible environment,” said Rob Jay, CEO of ScionHealth. “Congratulations to our top performers in the second year of our National Quality Strategy, as well as the many hospitals that have achieved year-over-year improvements in quality performance. Our NQS initiative continues to foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement that, in turn, drives better patient outcomes and experiences across our hospitals. The progress we’ve made in just two years is significant, and we are committed to sustaining this momentum in the years ahead.”

The company’s National Quality Strategy promotes best practices and measures the success of its hospitals’ quality performance over 12 months. The rigorous program enables and empowers hospitals to continuously improve patient care, safety, and satisfaction with an underlying goal of zero patient harm.

The ScionHealth NQS measures hospital quality over the six domains of healthcare quality established by the Institute of Medicine. Each domain features a mix of clinical metrics and best practices that include clinical protocols, training, and leadership. The more a hospital succeeds in each category, the more likely it is to achieve better results in terms of patient safety, outcomes, and experiences. Here is a brief overview of each domain. You can read more about the ScionHealth NQS here.

• Effective – The hospital provides evidence-based care to all who could benefit, and refrains from providing services to those not likely to benefit, avoiding both underuse and misuse.
• Efficient – Through strong teamwork and open communication, the hospital reduces waste and allows time and resources to be optimized toward effective patient care.
• Equitable – The hospital’s patients should have the opportunity to achieve their highest health potential, regardless of socially determined circumstances.
• Patient-Centered – The hospital’s patients are its top priority. The hospital cares for their physical comfort and emotional well-being and respects patient and family preferences and values. By involving patients and families in care-plan development, the hospital improves healing and recovery.
• Safe – By approaching patient safety initiatives holistically and systemically, the hospital strives to make safe care ordinary and routine.
• Timely – Timeliness of care is a crucial aspect of improving patient outcomes. By accurately assessing and appropriately addressing the urgency of care, the hospital strives to reduce harmful delays and minimize waste.

“The ScionHealth National Quality Strategy challenges every hospital and team member to ingrain quality and safety in everything they do,” said Dean French, Chief Medical Officer at ScionHealth. “The program is specific, measurable, and adaptive – driving continuous improvement and best practice-sharing within our family of hospitals, which benefits the entire organization. We were thrilled by the year-over-year improvements achieved by the Platinum Award winners and so many of our hospitals, and we look forward to seeing how our ongoing commitment to quality continues to enhance patient care.”