EAST STROUDSBURG - HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization that analyzes patient outcomes at each of the nation’s 5,000 nonfederal hospitals, officially announced today that Pocono Medical Center is being recognized as among the top 5% in the nation for outstanding clinical performance.

In addition to the Distinguished Hospital Award, HealthGrades also recognized Pocono Medical Center with the HealthGrades Excellence Awards for its Cardiac Surgery, Stroke Care, Prostatectomy, Gastroenterology and Critical Care services.  Alison Laevey presented the awards on behalf of HealthGrades to Pocono Medical Center. They were accepted by Jonathan Goldner, DO, Chief of the Medical Staff, Pocono Medical Center; Kathleen E. Kuck, President & CEO, Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center; and Andrew Worthington, Vice Chair, Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center Board of Directors. 

Kathleen Kuck, President & CEO recognized her staff for this achievement.  “I am so proud to represent such a talented, hard-working group of individuals.  This is a tremendous accomplishment for our hospital and our community.  It reflects our ongoing dedication to excellent patient care, and it means our community has access to some of the very best care in the nation,” she said.  Kuck also stated that independent studies like HealthGrades’ are important because they help consumers become more educated in selecting their healthcare providers. 

According to the eighth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, Pocono Medical Center and the other hospitals in the top 5% demonstrated patient outcomes that far exceeded those of other hospitals.  Patients admitted to these hospitals had risk-adjusted mortality rates that were, on average, 29% lower than all other hospitals. Risk-adjusted complication rates were, on average, 9% lower than all other hospitals.