Dental Associates receives Leaders in Transparency Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Monica Baer, 262-522-9687
Darin Schumacher, 920-431-1742
dschumacher@dentalassociates.com
Milwaukee, WI (Jan. 7, 2015) – Dental Associates, Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dental group practice, is one of six organizations nationally to be recognized with a 2014 Press Ganey Leaders in Transparency Award. The award honors innovative health care organizations that have implemented solutions to capture the voice of patients and have shared patient experiences online. The other recipients include INTEGRIS Health, Piedmont Healthcare, Stanford Health Care, University of Utah Health Care and Wake Forest Baptist Health.
Earlier this year, Dental Associates began posting patient evaluations of its dentists and clinics on its website – DentalAssociates.com. The evaluations are based on surveys, conducted by Press Ganey, of Dental Associates’ patients.
“As a company, we’ve always pushed ourselves to be a leader in the healthcare industry and deliver the best patient care possible. I’m proud to say we’re the first and only group dental practice in Wisconsin that’s implemented a completely transparent way for patients to review and select a doctor,” says Anthony G. Vastardis, CEO of Dental Associates. “Since 2003, we’ve conducted ongoing surveys with Press Ganey to hear our patient’s voice. In September, we decided it was time to share that information in a public way.”
Each dentist at Dental Associates has a profile page on the company’s website. The pages feature an overall five-point rating for the doctor, nine ratings based on specific questions related to the patient’s interaction with the doctor and patient comments from the past 18 months. The page also includes a headshot of the doctor, details his or her education and lists any professional associations they’re involved in.
“The transparency movement is advancing the patient experience by providing public access to performance data to both improve engagement and increase accountability among physicians and employees. The organizations honored with the Leaders in Transparency Award are at the forefront of this movement,” says Patrick T. Ryan, CEO, Press Ganey. “I am pleased to honor Dental Associates for their leadership and vision. Through their efforts, they are paving the way to dramatically improve the health care delivery system.
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Founded in 1973, Dental Associates is Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dental group practice with 12 offices throughout the state and nearly 850 staff members, including 100 doctors and 504 operatories. Dental Associates provides complete family dental services, both general and specialty dentistry, under one roof – from pediatric dentistry to specialized dental services for older adults – with a focus on excellent care that is affordable, accessible and personalized. Dental Associates is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Through the company’s CarePlus Dental Plans, Dental Associates provides affordable and high-quality dental health care to all Wisconsin residents. For more information regarding Dental Associates, visit www.dentalassociates.com.
Recognized as a leader in performance improvement for nearly 30 years, Press Ganey partners with more than 11,000 health care organizations worldwide to create and sustain high-performing organizations, and, ultimately, improve the overall health care experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to help clients operate efficiently, improve quality, increase market share and optimize reimbursement. Press Ganey works with clients from across the continuum of care – hospitals, medical practices, home care agencies and other providers – including more than 50% of all U.S. hospitals.
