Defining Quality in Health Care

Quality can be defined as the level of excellence or worth. Through our life experiences, many of us feel confident in our ability to recognize a high level of quality when we see it, such as quality craftsmanship or quality customer service.

To recognize quality of a health care experience, you have to be well-informed. At Sentara, we want you to ask questions so you can make better decisions about your health care. Questions like: What is the experience level of my doctor? Is he/she board certified? How many times has this particular facility performed this procedure? By asking these and other important questions, you and your family will be able to make the best decisions possible about your health care.

As a nationally recognized industry leader with locations across Virginia and North Carolina, Sentara is committed to providing high-quality health care through innovation and the use of the latest technology. Sentara has always been a firm believer in empowering health care consumers so they can make informed decisions and take an active role in their own care.

More Ways to Define Quality

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Hospital Credentials

Sentara hospitals are accredited by DNV Healthcare, Inc. DNV accreditation addresses the demands of quality-driven hospitals that are dedicated to patient-centered care. This accreditation is important because it confirms that Sentara is meeting Medicare and Medicaid’s standards to be a provider of healthcare services to those programs and that the National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) standards and the ISO 9001 Quality Management System standards are met.

DNV Healthcare, Inc. is a 144-year-old company based in Norway. It has recognized authority from CMS to perform hospital surveys in the United States. DNV promotes ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards as the foundation of the Medical Center’s Quality Management System. These standards ensure it is taking all necessary steps to deliver safe and effective healthcare services to patients.

ISO 9001 is recognized by businesses around the world as the benchmark for continual quality improvement. Innovative hospitals have started embracing ISO as a way to identify and focus on the most successful approaches to patient care, billing and other critical aspects of running a modern hospital.

Doctor Credentials

Board certification, or the international equivalent, means that doctors have completed the amount of training that a specialty board requires. These physicians have practiced for a specified period of time and passed rigorous written and oral exams. Board certification is generally accepted as a strong indicator of a physician’s competence and experience. To learn more about physician credentials, visit the Virginia Board of Medicine website.

Experience

When it comes to treating a particular disease, nothing can equal experience. Studies show that physicians and hospitals have better results when they treat a high number of patients for a particular disease and perform large numbers of procedures to treat it.

Reputation, Awards and Recognitions

Hospitals with a reputation for innovation often attract the most highly skilled professionals and provide the most comprehensive services. When making decisions about health care providers, find out about their track record as pioneers in health care. National awards and recognition within the industry are solid indicators of success. Sentara regularly celebrates significant milestones and accolades within the industry.

Learn more about our awards and recognitions.

Services Offered

Hospitals with a broad range of medical services can treat more complex conditions. These hospitals are better equipped to manage complications, should they occur. Additionally, for diseases where many options for care exist, including prevention, drug therapy, non-surgical intervention and surgery, your physician has more care choices. As a result, you are better assured that the procedure recommended is the best one for you. This access to a full range of care options is important to your health.

With 12 hospitals and more than 300 sites of care, Sentara is well equipped to handle treatment of a wide range of injuries, illnesses and diseases. Sentara hospitals specialize in cardiac and vascular surgery, neurosciences, minimally invasive techniques, advanced imaging services, cancer treatment, urology, OB services, transplant services, and numerous other specialties.

Sentara also offers a full range of award-winning health coverage plans, home health and hospice services, physical therapy and rehabilitation services.

Research and Clinical Trials

Experienced physicians and scientists must keep up with the latest medical knowledge to be able to train and mentor colleagues. Our team approach to patient care facilitates the sharing of knowledge, research, and clinical findings, resulting in the most rapid transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the bedside. Patients benefit from the latest diagnostic and treatment options that often result in improved outcomes.

As a Sentara patient, you may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial through the Sentara Health Research Center. Clinical trials help researchers learn which approaches are most successful in fighting various diseases. Several standard treatments used today were first shown to be effective in clinical trials. As patients continue to participate in these valuable studies, new and better treatments are discovered.

The Sentara Health Research Center provides scientific, administrative and regulatory support for research conducted across Sentara and in our communities. Located in one of the most culturally diverse regions of the United States, the Sentara Health Research Center serves as a premier research partner. With over 300 sites of care, and 12 hospitals Sentara is utilizing the research capability and scope of our healthcare system to advance health throughout the communities we serve.

Clinical Outcomes

Although it is impossible to eliminate all risks of medical complications or death, especially for seriously ill patients, risks can be reduced by choosing a hospital with a lower mortality rate and/or a higher long-term survival or success rate. Ask the doctor and the hospital for their mortality rates and try to compare rates for patients most like yourself. If a doctor or hospital is reluctant to provide you with that information, look at alternatives.