Hickory Sun

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Hospitals in America for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award for 2025. This accolade is part of ten awards CVMC received from the organization, which uniquely considers women's preferences when selecting hospitals.

In addition to being named a top hospital for patient experience, CVMC earned recognition in nine other categories: Bariatric Surgery, Cancer Care, Heart Care, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Obstetrics, Orthopedics, Outpatient Experience, Patient Safety, and Stroke Care. This follows a similar achievement in 2024 when CVMC also received ten awards.

Michelle Lusk, Chief Nursing Officer at CVMC, stated that "providing exceptional patient experience through quality, safety and customer service is not only best for patients but it also results in greater employee morale and satisfaction." She emphasized that this approach reduces turnover and aids in recruiting top talent. Lusk added that these accomplishments are shared with the region they serve.

The Women's Choice Award highlighted that modern patients are more involved in their care journey and demand an enhanced experience. This shift places pressure on healthcare providers to adopt more patient-centered approaches.

Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award, explained that the award helps women simplify their choices by recognizing hospitals excelling in areas such as physician communication and staff assistance. The selection methodology involves evaluating Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results alongside primary research into women's healthcare preferences.