Brookings Health System Named One of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care

  • March 10, 2014

Brookings Health System’s hospital was recently named one of the 2014 America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by WomenCertified, Inc. The selection is based on how quickly patients are seen by care providers and how much time they spend in the emergency department. Pictured here is part of the emergency department staff, from left, Physician Assistant Tara Heinze, RN Heather Bortnem, Receptionist Ashley Sumner, RN Jen Chandler, RN Devan Hoekman and ED Supervisor RN Bev Cotton.
Brookings Health System’s hospital was recently named one of the 2014 America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by WomenCertified, Inc. The selection is based on how quickly patients are seen by care providers and how much time they spend in the emergency department. Pictured here is part of the emergency department staff, from left, Physician Assistant Tara Heinze, RN Heather Bortnem, Receptionist Ashley Sumner, RN Jen Chandler, RN Devan Hoekman and ED Supervisor RN Bev Cotton.

Brookings Health System’s hospital has been named as one of the 2014 America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by WomenCertified, Inc, home of the Women’s Choice Award.

“The selection for this honor is based on the seven core measures for emergency care as rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services,” said Chief Nursing Officer Tammy Hillestad. “This includes how quickly patients are seen by a care provider and how much time they spend in the emergency department. Our emergency department typically sees patients and responds to their needs more quickly than the South Dakota or national averages.”

The Women’s Choice Award is a seal reserved for hospitals across America who partner with WomenCertified in its mission to empower women to make smart healthcare choices. The distinction is the only award that identifies the country’s best healthcare institutions based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction, clinical excellence, and what women say they want from a hospital, including quality physician communications, responsiveness of nurses and support staff, cleanliness and trusted referrals from other women.

Brookings Health System’s emergency department was remodeled in 2011 and expanded to 11 exam and treatment rooms, including dedicated areas for trauma, orthopedic, obstetric, pediatric and psychiatric patients. The emergency room also incorporates state-of-the-art technology for enhanced security measures and a sophisticated internal communication system. To learn more, please visit www.brookingshealth.org/Emergency.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, Arlington Medical Center and White Medical Clinic. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, surgical and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.