Awards, Recognitions and Designations

Northwest Community Hospital is always working to provide you with the best possible patient care—and it shows. Top organizations, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Stroke Association, The Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists and many others, have recognized us for our efforts on your behalf. Below are just a few of the many awards we've won.

:: Quick Links :: Clinical Medical Services -- Cancer -- Ear, Nose and Throat -- Gastroenterology -- Heart Care -- Knee and Hip Replacement -- Orthopedics Services -- Palliative Care -- Stroke Corporate Awards

 

Clinical

THE JOINT COMMISSION SEAL OF APPROVAL®
Northwest Community Hospital earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® in 2006 and 2011. By taking the lead on quality and safety improvement, hospitals with The Joint Commission accreditation are saving lives and improving the health and quality of life for thousands of patients.
Award	From	History	Notable
	The Joint Commission, the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare	2006, 2011	Hospitals with The Joint Commission accreditation have significantly improved the quality of care provided to heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical patients.

MAGNET® RECOGNITION FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE
Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, this four-year designation is the highest level of recognition that nursing services can obtain. The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards Magnet® status to hospitals that exhibit exemplary patient outcomes and satisfaction, have impressive nurse-to-patient ratios, and attract and retain the best nursing staff.
Award	From	History	Notable
	American Nurses Credentialing Center	Designations 2010–2014 2006–2010	Only 6 percent of healthcare organizations across the country have earned Magnet® status.
		Duration
		4 years

U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals – Chicago area
NCH is ranked as one of the best hospitals in the Chicago-metro area (No. 7) and in Illinois (No. 8) by U.S. News & World Report. In the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat, NCH is No. 40 in the nation and is designated a high-performing hospital nationally in nine medical specialty areas.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. News & World Report	Designations 2012–2013 2011–2012	NCH is ranked No. 7 of 121 hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area. When compared to all other hospitals in the United States in 2012, NCH ranks No. 40 in the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat. NCH is also considered high-performing in nine medical specialties by U.S. News: cancer, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.
		Duration
		1 year

THE LEAPFROG GROUP'S HOSPITAL SAFETY SCORESM
Northwest Community Hospital is recognized among the nation's best when it comes to excellence in keeping patients safe during a hospital stay. NCH received the highest distinction of an "A" grading from The LeapFrog Group's Hospital Safety ScoreSM, a first-of-its kind initiative that aims to make hospital safety measures and compliance more transparent. The Hospital Safety Score is a single score product compiled from 26 publicly reported measures of hospital safety data including rates of infection and injury, as well as preventable medical and medication errors.
Award	From	History	Notable
Hospital Safety ScoreSM "A" grading	The LeapFrog Group's Hospital Safety ScoreSM	Designated in 2012	Of the 108 acute care hospitals evaluated in Illinois, NCH is among the 49 hospitals to earn the highest mark with the "A" letter grade.

BEACON AWARD FOR CRITICAL CARE EXCELLENCE
Northwest Community Hospital first earned the Beacon Award in 2007 from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing the interests of more than 400,000 critical care nurses. The Beacon Award was created to challenge acute and critical care nurses to improve the care provided to acutely and critically ill patients. Like the Magnet® designation, the Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has a comprehensive application process, which includes showing significant evidence of high performance outcomes in critical care.
Award	From	History	Notable
	American Association of Critical-Care Nurses	Designated in 2007 Redesignated in 2010	The Beacon Award recognizes organizations that achieve high quality outcomes in critical care. - Adult Critical Care - Adult Progressive Care - Pediatric Critical Care Units

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT APPROVED FOR PEDIATRICS (EDAP)
NCH's Pediatric Emergency Department is designated as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP). Our EDAP offers a higher level of care by ensuring 24-hour physician coverage, a 75 percent or higher level of physicians who are board-certified in emergency medicine or pediatric emergency medicine, and a 75 percent or higher level of nursing staff certified in Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS), among other requirements. EDAP hospitals must also have equipment that takes into account the size and stage of development of children.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Illinois Department of Public Health	Approved in Jan. 2010
		Duration
		3 year

LABORATORY ACCREDITATION
The goal of the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is to improve patient safety by advancing the quality of pathology and laboratory services through education, standard setting and ensuring laboratories meet or exceed regulatory requirements. Upon successful completion of the inspection process, the laboratory is awarded CAP accreditation and becomes part of an exclusive group of more than 7,000 laboratories worldwide that have met the highest standards of excellence necessary to achieve laboratory accreditation.
Award	From	History	Notable
	College of American Pathologists	Approved in Jan. 2010	NCH is one of nearly 7,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.
		Duration
		1 year

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDAL OF HONOR
Northwest Community Hospital received this award for its organ and tissue donations through the Gift of Hope.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	2009, 2007	NCH is one of only 428 hospitals across the country to earn this distinction.

 

Medical Services

 

Cancer Services

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT – HIGH-PERFORMING HOSPITAL
NCH received this one-year national designation as a high-performing hospital in cancer.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. News & World Report	2012–2013	When compared to all other hospitals in the United States in 2012, NCH ranks No. 40 in the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat. NCH is also considered high-performing in eight other medical specialties by U.S. News: gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.
		Duration
		1 year

CANCER PROGRAM 3-YEAR APPROVAL WITH COMMENDATION
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Program encourages hospitals, treatment centers and other facilities to improve their quality of patient care. Recognizing that cancer is a complex group of diseases, the CoC Cancer Program Standards promote consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists.
Award	From	History	Notable
	American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer (CoC)	2009–2011 2006–2009	First received this distinction in 2006. Multidisciplinary cooperation results in improved patient care.
		Duration
		3 years

RADIATION ONCOLOGY ACCREDITED FACILITY
Awarded by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), this three-year accreditation represents the highest level of quality care and patient safety achievable in radiation oncology. It is awarded only to facilities that meet or exceed specific practice guidelines and technical standards. Hospitals undergo a rigorous site review by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists.
Award	From	History	Notable
	American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)	2011–2014	NCH is the fourth hospital in Illinois to receive this accreditation.
		Duration
		3 years

BREAST IMAGING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
To receive the designation from the American College of Radiology, NCH's Breast Center earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy). Peer-review evaluations conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and expert medical physicists determined that the NCH Breast Center has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs
Award	From	History	Notable
	American College of Radiology (ACR)	2012–2015	NCH is one of only 6 facilities in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs to receive this distinction.
		Duration
		3 years

 

Ear, Nose and Throat

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT – NATIONAL RANKING IN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT
Northwest Community Hospital is No. 40 in the nation in the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat, according to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" list for 2012-13. NCH was evaluated for its excellence in patient safety, reputation with physicians, survival rates and other quality of care measures.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. News & World Report	2012–2013	NCH is also considered high-performing in nine other medical specialties by U.S. News: cancer, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.

 

Gastroenterology Services

U.S. News & World Report – High-Performing Hospital
For the second year in a row, NCH received this one-year national designation as a high-performing hospital in gastroenterology.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. News & World Report	2012–2013 2011–2012	When compared to all other hospitals in the United States in 2012, NCH ranks No. 40 in the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat. NCH is also considered high-performing in eight other medical specialties by U.S. News: cancer, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.
		Duration
		1 year

 

Heart Care

100 TOP HOSPITALS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR CARE—2009
This award is based on a study of the performance of 971 U.S. hospitals by analyzing clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with heart failure and heart attacks, and those who received coronary bypass surgery and angioplasties.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Thomson-Reuters, a global healthcare information company	2009, 2008, 2004, 2002 and 2000	NCH has been recognized as one of the top hospitals in the country for heart care for the five times in the past decade.
		Duration
		1 year

BLUE DISTINCTION CENTER FOR CARDIAC CARE®
When you or someone you care about is in need of heart care, you want a facility you can trust. Healthcare organizations designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care® have demonstrated their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care provide a full range of cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois	2009	One of only 26 hospitals in Illinois to earn this distinction.
		Duration
		3 years

ECHO LAB ACCREDITATION
Our Echo Lab was one of the first in the area to be accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL), acknowledging our commitment to excellence and implementation of evidenced-based protocols.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL)	2010, 2007, 2004, 2001	One of the first hospitals in the Northwest Suburbs to be accredited.
		Duration
		3 years

 

Knee and Hip Replacements

BCBS Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement®
Northwest Community Hospital has earned Blue Cross Blue Shield's Blue Distinction Center+ "Total Value" designation for knee and hip replacements. This designation signifies that NCH met nationally established quality care and outcomes criteria developed with input from the medical community, and also met cost measures that address consumers' need for affordable healthcare.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois	2013, first time receiving designation	One of only 26 hospitals in Illinois to earn this distinction.
		Duration
		1 year

 

Orthopedics Services

U.S. News & World Report – High-Performing Hospital
For the second year in a row, NCH received this one-year national designation as a high-performing hospital in orthopedics.
Award	From	History	Notable
	U.S. News & World Report	2012–2013 2011–2012	When compared to all other hospitals in the United States in 2012, NCH ranks No. 40 in the medical specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat. NCH is also considered high-performing in eight other medical specialties by U.S. News: cancer, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, and urology.
		Duration
		1 year

 

Palliative Care

 

ADVANCED CERTIFICATION FOR PALLIATIVE CARE
NCH is the first hospital in Illinois and among the first 10 acute care hospitals in the nation to receive Advanced Certification for Palliative Care by The Joint Commission. The new accreditation was developed in 2011 by The Joint Commission to set standards and acknowledge hospitals providing comprehensive and holistic palliative care services to patients and families faced with serious illness.
Award	From	History	Notable
	The Joint Commission	2012	The first hospital in Illinois and among the first 10 acute care hospitals in the country to be certified.
		Duration
		2 years

 

Stroke

ADVANCED PRIMARY STROKE CENTER
As an accredited Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, we are trained and ready to perform the latest stroke interventions at a moment's notice for any patient, hospital or healthcare provider in the northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin region.
Award	From	History	Notable
Advanced Primary Stroke Center	The Joint Commission	2010-2012 2008–2010 2006–2008	One of only two hospitals in Northwest Suburbs to be designated for having the critical elements to improve stroke care. Enables us to perform advanced procedures that can reduce or eliminate after-effects of stroke.
		Duration
		2 years

GET WITH THE GUIDELINES® STROKE GOLD PLUS QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Get with the Guidelines® Stroke puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to work for hospital teams, helping to ensure the care provided to stroke patients is aligned with the latest scientific guidelines.
Award	From	History	Notable
	American Stroke Association American Heart Association	2012 (Gold Plus) 2011 (Gold Plus) 2010 (Silver)	Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award hospitals must achieve 85 percent compliance with all of the program's key measures and have maintained this performance for two consecutive 12-month periods, as well as meet specific stroke quality measures. NCH strongly adheres to evidence-based guidelines that include the aggressive use of medications and smoking cessation, all at aimed at reducing death and disability due to stroke.

 

Corporate Awards

MOST WIRED HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
NCH was named to Hospitals & Health Networks magazine's 2012 Most Wired list. This national accolade demonstrates NCH's commitment to implement health information technologies that optimize patient care processes, streamline communication among healthcare providers and protect patient data.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Hospitals & Health Networks	2012	NCH is among an elite group of approximately 200 hospitals and healthcare systems named to the 2012 Most Wired list.
		Duration
		1 year

AMERICA'S TOP WORKPLACES — NATIONAL LIST
NCH is among 322 organizations with more than 1,000 employees named to the America's Top Workplaces national list. Organizations are evaluated on employee feedback and opinions gathered through the WorkplaceDynamics survey.
Award	From	History	Notable
America's Top Workplaces	WorkplaceDynamics, LLP	2011	NCH is one of only three healthcare systems in Illinois to make this national list

CHICAGO'S TOP WORKPLACES 2011—CHICAGO TRIBUNE
NCH was ranked no. 11 in the Chicago Tribune's Chicago's Top Workplaces 2011. These awards are based on employee feedback and recognize "dynamic, supportive and inclusive cultures."
Award	From	History	Notable
	Chicago Tribune	2011, 2010	ONLY healthcare provider to receive this award two years in a row.
		Duration
		1 year

100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR—FORTUNE MAGAZINE–2009
FORTUNE magazine listed Northwest Community at No. 77 among the "Best Companies to Work For" in America (for the third time in four years).
Award	From	History	Notable
	Fortune Magazine	2009, 2007, 2006	ONLY Illinois company selected as one of the 100 best companies to work for in 2009. Ranked No. 77 in the country.
		Duration
		1 year

BEST PLACES TO WORK IN HEALTHCARE—MODERN HEALTHCARE–2009
Northwest Community Hospital was ranked No. 63 among the nation's top 100 best healthcare employers for 2009 by Modern Healthcare, the healthcare industry's leading magazine. The purpose of the Modern Healthcare survey is to promote progressive human resources strategies and support employee retention, patient satisfaction and economic development.
Award	From	History	Notable
	Modern Healthcare, the industry's most trusted, credible and relied-upon news source	Have made this top 100 list last two years	Ranked no. 63 in the country
		Duration
		1 year

READERS' CHOICE TOP HOSPITAL FOR RETENTION EFFORTS
Nurses throughout the Chicago area selected Northwest Community Hospital as a "Top Hospital for Retention Efforts" in ADVANCE for Nurses magazine. ADVANCE asked nurses to rank hospitals based on their performance in the following areas: quality of care, organizational culture, communication, professional development and retention efforts.
Award	From	History	Notable
	ADVANCE for Nurses magazine	2009, 2008	The hospital earned the distinction two years in a row for demonstrating many of the workplace components necessary in making a nurse's job fulfilling. Won in all five categories.

READERS' CHOICE BEST HOSPITAL 2010
Award	From	History	Notable
	Daily Herald	2010	NCH was one of only four hospitals honored in the best hospital category.

2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Award	From	History	Notable
	Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce	January 2010	In recognition of NCH's 50th anniversary year and our commitment to the community.

MEDICAL STAFF PERCEPTION AWARDS
NCH had a third-party firm conduct confidential telephone interviews to find out what the medical staff at NCH think of our hospital operations and patient care. We are pleased to learn that our medical staff gave many of our services 5-star ratings, the highest score healthcare organizations can achieve.
Award	From	Notable
	Professional Research Consultants, an experienced marketing research company for the healthcare industry	5-star award winner in: - Overall quality of care - Place to practice medicine - Nursing care - Laboratory services - Medical records