CHARLESTON—If you’re looking for a hospital ranked in the top 100 in the nation, then you don’t need to look any further than our own state of South Carolina.
Bon Secours St. Francis hospital, one of three Roper St. Francis facilities in the Charleston area, was listed in the top 100 by two different entities: Truven Health Analytics and Becker’s Hospital Review. Allen Carroll, CEO, said the rankings, which are completely unsolicited, provide deserved recognition to everyone in the hospital who works to make it special.
This is the second year running that the community hospital has made the Truven list, which evaluated almost 3,000 facilities in 10 areas of care. It has also been on Becker’s list before for individual components, but this is the first time St. Francis as a whole made their top 100, Carroll said.
Competition to be at the top of the field is stiff, with over 5,000 acute-care hospitals across the nation. Carroll credits the entire staff for their ability to work together like members of a community, and the continual effort to treat everyone with compassion.
Other factors for success include their designation as a Magnet Hospital — the gold standard in nursing — which recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice.
Franciscan Sister Kathy Adamski, director of mission, said the Catholic faith on which the hospital was founded gives them an extra boost every day as they serve patients based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
She notes that all hospitals operate under an ethics committee, but said “we have this little additional teaching tool that is our moral code” and imbues everything they do.
Carroll, who is a founding member of St. Benedict Church in Mount Pleasant, said the impact of Catholicism can be found everywhere in the health care facility.
“We begin the day with prayer and we end the day with prayer. And that’s over the loudspeaker, so it’s communal,” Carroll said.
The chapel’s stained glass windows greet visitors at the entrance, along with a wall detailing the history of the hospital, founded by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
It is also in overt symbols, such as fountains of healing waters in the foyer, the prayer garden outside, and the crucifix in each room.
It is found in the ethical and religious tenets of their pro-life ministry, and in subliminal ways that are seen most clearly in the daily interaction between staff members and their patients.
“We respect and honor the teaching authority of the Church,” Sister Kathy said. “One’s relationship with God is important here, but we respect all people.”
As one in six patients are cared for in a Catholic hospital, it can also be a great evangelization tool, along with the hospital’s commitment to outreach, both locally and globally.