Sutter Health and National Research Corporation Collaborate to Improve the Patient Experience

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sutter Health and National Research Corporation announced a collaboration to conduct the not-for-profit health system's patient experience measurement that will offer feedback on how to enhance patient care delivery.

Sutter Health recently created the Office of Patient Experience, which focuses on new ways for doctors and other clinicians to closely partner with patients and their families to provide innovative, personalized care that optimizes quality and safety.

"National Research and their teams will help us better connect with our patients and better understand their needs," said Don Wreden, M.D., Senior Vice President of Patient Experience. "Personalized healthcare starts with listening to our patients. Understanding their preferences is the foundation to building trusting relationships with them."

National Research begins sending surveys to Sutter Health patients this month via email, phone, and standard mail.

From primary care to end of life care, the work of National Research spans all patient touch points. This includes meeting the patients' needs for a safe transition from one care setting to another and precisely representing the voices of patients and their loved ones. Sutter Health will benefit from National Research's expertise, best practice knowledge, and networking opportunities.

"Through our initial dialogue with Sutter Health, it was very clear that their patients are at the center of their organizational decision making—and they should be," said Jason Stevens, Senior Vice President of Business Development at National Research. "It's thrilling to work with an organization so committed to nurturing healthy communities."  

About Sutter Health

Serving 3 million patients and their families in more than 100 Northern California cities and towns, Sutter Health doctors, not-for-profit hospitals and other healthcare service providers share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. The Sutter Medical Network includes many of California's top-performing, highest-quality physician organizations as measured annually by the Integrated Healthcare Association. Sutter-affiliated hospitals are regional leaders in cardiac care, women's and children's services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient-safety technology. For more information about the not-for-profit Sutter Health network visit: sutterhealth.org | facebook.com/sutterhealth | youtube.com/sutterhealth | twitter.com/sutterhealth

About National Research Corporation

For more than 30 years, National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCIA and NRCIB) has been at the forefront of patient-centered care. Today, the company's focus on empowering customer-centric healthcare across the continuum extends patient-centered care to incorporate families, communities, employees, senior housing residents, and other stakeholders.

National Research is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. For more information, call 800-388-4264, write to info@nationalresearch.com, or visit www.nationalresearch.com.