Centegra ranked among nation's top 50 health systems

Centegra Health System just got a better view of the chalkboard.

Centegra, McHenry County's largest employer, is one of the 50 best health systems in the country, according to a recent survey conducted by Thomson Reuters.

The survey evaluated the quality and efficiency of 252 health systems in the United States. Factors in the rankings included mortality, medical complications, patient safety, length of stay and compliance with federal health care standards.

"These health systems outperformed their peers by a wide margin. They provided better care, saved more lives, had fewer medical complications, and made fewer patient safety errors - even though they treat sicker patients, on average. They set the standard for the industry," said Jean Chenoweth, Thomson Reuters senior vice president for hospital performance improvements, in a statement.

A Centegra spokeswoman said the ranking was a direct result of the health system's efforts to survey patients on the quality of their care, identify weaknesses and make improvements.

"The great thing is it was based on patient satisfaction," Centegra spokeswoman Kim Kubiak said. "We pride ourselves on that."

Centegra has hospitals in McHenry and Woodstock as well as numerous health centers throughout the county, including a campus that opened in Huntley last year.