GARDNER – Heywood Healthcare recently received high ratings for its Gardner and Athol hospitals through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The federal agency recently released the annual Hospital Quality Star Ratings, which evaluates 46 hospital quality measures, divided into five categories – safety of care, mortality, patient experience, readmission rates, and timely and effective care. CMS provides health coverage to more than 160 million through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Heywood Hospital received a four-star rating out of a possible five, an improvement from its previous three-star rating in 2023.

“This improvement underscores the unwavering commitment to providing exceptional patient care and hard work of everyone in the organization, even as the health system navigated the complexities of Chapter 11 reorganization,” a statement on the announcement read.

Athol Hospital also received a four-star rating, “demonstrating its ongoing commitment to safe patient care,” according to the announcement. Additionally, Athol Hospital recently received the IPRO’s 2024 Hospital Quality Improvement award for its ongoing commitment to patient safety and performance improvement, having been recognized for “most improved performance.”

“I am humbled and honored to lead a team of such talented and dedicated individuals who demonstrate their unwavering commitment and genuine care for our patients each and every day,” said Heywood Healthcare President and CEO Rozanna Penney in a statement.

In May of this year, Heywood Hospital announced it had filed papers to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which it entered in October 2023. During the eight months since the filing, the healthcare facilities retained and expanded the medical staff, re-opened the inpatient mental health unit, and experienced growth in inpatient, surgical, and ambulatory volume, including a 16% increase in labor and delivery.