Yampa Valley Medical Center has been named a Top 100 Hospital in the United States by an organization that evaluates more than 2,700 hospitals across the country.

It’s the first time in 24 years of Truven Health Analytics’ study that YVMC has earned this honor.

The study uses a handful of metrics to evaluate hospitals on clinical and operational performance, including by identifying hospitals where patients report good care, where emergency departments provide timely care and where patients have fewer complications and readmission rates.

“The dedication of our staff, volunteers and physicians is reflected in this award,” said YVMC CEO Frank May, in a news release.

According to YVMC staff, Truven Health Analytics uses multiple sets of reported data to crunch their own numbers and decide the rankings.

While many of the data points on YVMC available through medicare.gov have too low of incidence to report publicly, available data shows the hospital has excelled when it comes to timely emergency department care and patient satisfaction.

According to the medicare.gov database, patients who visit YVMC’s emergency department see a healthcare professional in an average of 11 minutes, compared to 13 minutes in Colorado and 18 minutes nationally, when compared to other emergency departments of similar size.

ED patients with broken bones can expect to receive pain medicine in 19 minutes at YVMC, compared to 43 minutes in Colorado and 52 minutes nationally, on average.

Patients can also expect quicker ED visits at YVMC, averaging about 94 minutes, compared to 116 minutes in other places in Colorado and 113 minutes nationally, on average.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, the hospital has consistently earned good marks from patients.

YVMC scored above the state and national average on 11 categories of patient experience reported on medicare.gov, including on rankings of cleanliness, receiving adequate information about what to do when being discharged and on whether patients would recommend the hospital.

YVMC was one of 20 small community hospitals named in the report, which also identified 20 medium and 20 large hospitals, 25 teaching hospitals and 15 major teaching hospitals as part of the top 100.

YVMC was one of five Colorado hospitals recognized as part of the top 100.

For more information see 100tophospitals.com.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow