NAGS HEAD, N.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced that The Outer Banks Hospital received a 5-star rating in both the Physician Communication and the Nurse Communication categories.

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) utilizes these star ratings to summarize the patient experience, which is one aspect of hospital quality. The ratings are based on surveys that patients take after receiving care.

“The 5-star rating is the highest rating and it underscores the focus that Outer Banks Health places on the patient experience,” noted Kimberly Hardman, director of experience. “We know that listening to the patient and addressing concerns with compassion and high-quality treatment leads to better outcomes.”

“Our physicians and nurses are among the best of the best with only five North Carolina facilities achieving the 5-star rating in both categories,” said Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, president of Outer Banks Health. “It isn’t just about our commitment to delivering quality care. It’s about delivering quality care with compassion and our nurses and providers deliver it every single day.”