Hospital Earns “A” for Patient Satisfaction and Racial Inclusivity on National Ranking
« ReturnSt. James Parish Hospital earned an “A” grade for Patient Satisfaction and Racial Inclusivity and was named the number one Critical Access Hospital in the state for both measures on the 2024-2025 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.
Patient Satisfaction
St. James Parish Hospital has been recognized by the Lown Institute for excellence in patient satisfaction, receiving an “A” grade on the 2024-2025 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. The hospital achieved this honor by receiving high scores on measures of patient experience—including cleanliness, provider communication and responsiveness—out of more than 3,200 hospitals nationwide.
The hospital’s score places them #1 in Louisiana for Critical Access Hospital patient satisfaction.
“Providing compassionate and responsive care is not an easy task” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “These hospitals at the top of our list show that it can be done.”
Lown’s patient satisfaction metric uses 2022-2023 data from CMS’ Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), a national survey measuring patients’ perceptions of their hospital experience. The survey includes metrics such as provider communication, staff responsiveness, quietness and cleanliness of the hospital.
Racial Inclusivity
St. James Parish Hospital has also been recognized by the Lown Institute for success at serving communities of color, receiving an “A” grade for racial inclusivity on the 2024-2025 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.
The hospital achieved this honor out of more than 3,100 hospitals nationwide. Statewide, St. James Parish Hospital is the #1 Critical Access Hospital for Racial Inclusivity.
“With communities of color facing major barriers to healthcare access, it’s essential that hospitals serve everyone who needs care,” said Lown Institute President Vikas Saini, MD.
Lown’s racial inclusivity score reflects how well the demographics of the hospital’s 65+ community compare to the demographics of the Medicare patient population (those the hospital does serve). Data sources include Medicare claims from 2022 and Census data for racial/ethnic groups by zip code.
“Quality, compassion and inclusivity are values we strive to live by every day for our patients and the communities we serve,” said Mary Ellen Pratt, FACHE, St. James Parish Hospital CEO.
“To be celebrated nationally for the work we do makes me even more thankful for the amazing team we have here at St. James Parish Hospital.”
About Lown Hospitals Index
The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the fifth annual rankings, the 2024-25 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms, among others. Full methodology can be found on the Lown Index website.
The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.
