Press Release from Southwestern Medical Center, 3/21/2023

Lawton, Okla. - Southwestern Medical Center has been named one of the World's Best Hospitals by Newsweek magazine for the second consecutive year. This prestigious award is presented annually by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world's leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The 2023 awards list was announced on March 1 and can currently be viewed on Newsweek's website.

“This award recognizes the high-quality outcomes and positive experiences we deliver each day to the patients who come through our hospital doors," said Adam Bracks, CEO of Southwestern Medical Center. “It is a testament to our team of compassionate, highly skilled caregivers and their commitment to improving the health and well-being of those who entrust us with their care. We know Southwestern stands out as one of the best hospitals in the state ‒ to make this ‘world’s best’ listing is quite an honor.”

Southwestern Medical Center has served the Lawton and Fort Sill communities for 115 years with a history of leadership in delivering compassionate, skilled healthcare. It was the first hospital in Lawton to be awarded “Accreditation with Commendation” – the highest level of accreditation awarded by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest accrediting body. Its Southwestern Rehabilitation Center was the first rehabilitation facility in the region to receive a three-year accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) ‒ the highest level of accreditation achievable. And, the hospital was the first in Southwest Oklahoma to attain Primary Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission.

The hospital also currently holds a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Newsweek rating serves as a similar tool for individuals wanting to assess their healthcare options.

"The 2023 rankings are based on a global survey of doctors, healthcare professionals, and administrators across four continents," said Nancy Cooper, global editor-in-chief at Newsweek. "These rankings help guide Newsweek readers in making crucial decisions about care for themselves and their loved ones."

Newsweek and Statista developed a complex methodology to ensure the quality and validity of the ranking. Four data sources were used for the evaluation:

  • Hospital recommendations from Medical Experts: an international online survey sent to more than 80,000 healthcare professionals;
  • Patient Experience: survey of patient satisfaction with hospitalization;
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures: surveys measuring patient satisfaction with hospitals; and
  • Hospital Quality Metrics: patient safety, hygiene measures, waiting times and quality of treatment.

The World's Best Hospitals 2023 recognizes the best medical institutions across 28 countries: USA, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Canada, India, Australia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Austria, Thailand, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Israel, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan.

More From KLAW-FM