LUTCHER — St. James Parish Hospital was named the Studer Group Health Care Organization of the Month for achieving remarkable results and helping to positively change health care.

The Studer Group, an outcomes-based health care performance improvement firm that works with health care organizations in the United States and beyond, chooses one organization a month to highlight based on results in important areas such as patient satisfaction, quality, employee satisfaction and financial stability.

Although St. James Parish Hospital is still in the beginning of its journey with the Studer Group, the hospital achieved several of the organizational goals set forth in year one, which included meeting and/or exceeding targeted scores in quality, patient satisfaction and employee satisfaction.

“As their coach, it has been amazing to see the transformation of culture and the continued growth of the leaders and staff at St. James Parish Hospital,” said Joel Bautista of Studer Group. “It is because of this that St. James Parish Hospital is a better place to work as well as a better place to receive care.”

Hospital CEO Mary Ellen Pratt said the hospital still have a long way to go on its never-ending journey to provide the highest quality, most cost-effective and compassionate health care, but with the support of Studer, “we look forward to taking on this challenge for our community.”

“I am so proud of our employees for their hard work and all they have done to enhance the patient experience,” Pratt said. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our team.”

In addition to Studer’s Healthcare Organization of the Month Award, in 2015 St. James Parish Hospital has been awarded as an Avatar “Best in Class Employer” for Employee Satisfaction, a Louisiana Life Magazine “Patient’s Pick” and a 5-Star Quality Hospital by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.