Tampa (Sept. 26, 2006) -
Healthcare consumers have identified Tampa General as one of the region’s top hospitals when
it comes to quality and image. Based on these findings, the National Research Corporation
awarded Tampa General its prestigious Consumer Choice Award for 2006-07. The award identifies
hospitals that healthcare consumers have selected for having the highest quality and image in
the U.S.
The National Research Corp. surveyed more than 200,000 households, representing 450,000
consumers, throughout the United States. TGH was one of 186 hospitals nationwide, and one of
18 in Florida, selected from among the 3,200 hospitals named by study participants.
TGH was the only hospital to receive this designation from the four-county metropolitan
statistical area of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando.
NRC Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Hays said winners are determined by consumer
perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company’s annual NRC
Healthcare Market Guide® study.
“Consumers play an increasing role in selecting their healthcare facilities and services,”
Hays said. “As more healthcare quality information is made publicly available, we expect
this trend to increase. These organizations are selected for the Consumer Choice Awards by
the community residents they serve. We are pleased to honor these facilities for their
dedication to quality healthcare in the eyes of their patients.”
Ron Hytoff, president and CEO of Tampa General, said the distinction is a reflection of the
hospital’s commitment to quality and to the teamwork and dedication of all employees.
“Our physicians and nurses are key components, but they do not work in a vacuum,” Hytoff said.
“This effort includes everyone from the clinical techs who perform diagnostic tests on
patients, to the people who clean the rooms, and the dietary staff that prepares the meals.
Our patients and their families are keenly aware of all these elements when they come to the
hospital.”
The 2006/07 Healthcare Market Guide is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive study of
its kind. No other study used to measure hospital performance and preferences contains more
consumer responses than NRC’s study. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 0.2
percent at a national level. Co-winners are named when scores fall within the statistical
margin of error for a given market.
National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCI) is an industry leader, with more than two decades
of experience in healthcare performance measurement and improvement.
