South Peninsula Hospital is officially the only hospital, out of 25 in the state of Alaska, that has earned a five-star rating based on Medicare patient surveys, according to a Dec. 28 press release from the hospital.

The rating was achieved in the Medicare Hospital Compare quality monitoring survey about patient care, which measures topics including communication with doctors and nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, hospital cleanliness and quietness, and patients’ overall rating of and willingness to recommend the hospital to others.

According to the release, the survey is conducted by asking a random sample of recently discharged patients about their hospital care experience. In addition to giving feedback on their care, patients can use Medicare’s Hospital Compare program to compare hospital ratings based on name of location. Medicare updates the scores quarterly, usually based on the prior year’s surveys.

SPH chief nursing officer Rachael Kincaid attributed the hospital’s five-star ranking to not only the great work of staff, but also to the patients receiving care, the release states.

“This ranking is a reflection of the teamwork and commitment demonstrated daily by our talented staff, as well as the commitment of the patients we care for, as demonstrated in their willingness to provide the feedback,” she stated in the release. “On behalf of the extended SPH team, we thank the community for this response.”

For more information on the program or to view current ratings both statewide and nationwide, visit www.medicare.gov/care-compare/ ?providerType=Hospital.