In last weeks article, I bragged about our VA in Maine and that they received 4 stars overall Hospital Quality Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Well, the ink wasn’t dry on that article when the CMS released its new report for 2024. VA Maine received a five-star rating in both overall quality and patient satisfaction. They rated over 215 hospitals (VA and non-VA) in New England. VA Maine is one of only two hospitals in New England to receive a double five-star rating. The only other hospital in New England to receive a double five-star rating is also a VA hospital, VA White River Junction, Vermont.   

“This is another great testament to the outstanding work being done by our dedicated staff at VA Maine,” said VA Maine Medical Director, Ms. Tracye Davis. 

As previously stated, this isn’t a rating amongst VA hospitals, CMS rates all hospitals around the nation. To quote from their press release: “Nationally, VA hospitals continue to outperform non-VA on both CMS’ Overall Star Rating and their quarterly patient satisfaction survey:  

• Patient Satisfaction Survey: VA outperformed non-VA hospitals in the most recent CMS Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) star ratings, with 79% of VA facilities receiving a summary star rating of 4 or 5 stars compared to 40% of non-VA hospitals. This represents the ninth consecutive quarter in which VA facilities have outperformed non-VA counterparts. 
  
  

• Hospital Quality Ratings: In this year’s CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, more than 58% of VA hospitals included received 4- or 5-star ratings compared to 40% of non-VA hospitals. This is only the second year VA hospitals have been included in this review, and VA has outperformed non-VA health care in both years.” 

 
As with all hospital systems, Maine’s VA hospital system isn’t perfect.  We who get our healthcare from the VA can share times when things didn’t meet expectations.  But our VA works tirelessly to fix those issues when they can.  Having enough practitioners is an issue, but it is an issue within the health care industry as a whole.  In most cases, the billets are there, but finding the right medical professionals to fill them is the problem.  While the VA can, and does, provide “community care,” the community doesn’t always have the medical personnel either.  I think one reason our VA stays on top of the issues is that they do outreach events all around the State and talk directly to veterans.  We just had one last Saturday in Jonesboro!  At least one veteran was able to get a number of complex issues resolved at the event both his benefits with VBA and his medical situation with VHA.  And, of course, we, the veteran community, meeting with the VA leadership monthly via the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee which is open to all veterans. 

Don’t forget about our Yard Sale and Craft Fair on Oct. 5!  Spread the word!