DCH Regional Medical Center Receives Overall Average Rating from Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports released its ratings of hospitals throughout the U.S., and Tuscaloosa's DCH Regional Medical Center has earned an overall average score. Out of a possible 100 points, the hospital scored 51.

Consumer Reports noted issues with avoiding patient readmission and proper communication about drug interactions and hospital discharge. An issue was also noted with avoiding patient death, a rating which Consumer Reports describes as being " based on the chance that a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, pneumonia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient will die within 30 days of being admitted to the hospital."

The hospital scored above-average on doctor-patient and nurse-patient communication, pain control, and appropriate use of abdominal and chest scanning.