Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Wins Consumer Choice Award

September 25, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the winner of the 2006-07 Consumer Choice Award for the Winston-Salem metropolitan area. The award, by National Research Corporation (NRC), honors hospitals that consumers rate as having the highest quality and image.

This is the eighth straight year that the Medical Center has received a Consumer Choice award. The award was presented to 234 hospitals nationwide in 180 markets. The winning facilities rank highest in their metropolitan statistical areas, which are defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nationally the Consumer Choice Awards are based on a survey of more than 200,000 households, representing 450,000 consumers, in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The Winston-Salem award is based on results from Forsyth, Yadkin, Davie and Surry counties.

The award winners were announced in the current issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.

The award reflects the growing role of consumer choice in the health care field, according to NRC.

“Consumers play an increasing role in their selection of health care facilities and services,” said Michael Hays, NRC president and CEO.

This is the 11th year NRC has recognized hospitals that consumers have rated highest for providing quality health care services. The survey is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. The margin of error is plus or minus 0.2 percent on a national level.

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Media Contacts: Karen Richardson, krchrdsn@wfubmc.edu; or Shannon Koontz, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu, at 336-716-4587.

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