Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Ridgewood, NJ – July 15, 2009 – More people would recommend The Valley Hospital to their friends and family than any other general acute care hospital in New Jersey, according to the latest government-released Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) figures.

The figures, released in July, show that 84 percent of Valley patients said they “would definitely recommend the hospital.”  By comparison, statewide, only 62 percent of New Jersey patients would recommend their hospital to others. The survey also indicated that 76 percent of Valley patients ranked their overall satisfaction with the hospital as a nine or a 10 on a 10-point scale. Statewide, only 58 percent of patients in New Jersey rated their overall hospital satisfaction that favorably.

Notably, Valley ranked highest among hospitals in Bergen and Passaic counties for eight of 10 measures of patient satisfaction:  communication with nurses, communication with physicians, responsiveness of the hospital staff,  pain management, communication about medicines, cleanliness of the hospital environment, overall satisfaction with the hospital, and willingness to recommend the hospital.

“I am delighted that our patients consistently give us such high marks, which are a reflection of the skill, dedication and expertise of our staff and physicians,” said Audrey Meyers, Valley’s President and CEO.

The HCAHPS survey --  is conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the national Hospital Quality Alliance.  Results are released on a quarterly basis. To see the latest survey results, visit www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.