The National Research Corporation (NRC) Health has selected the NIH Clinical Center as a recipient of its 2017 Excellence Award, having earned the highest ratings in overall satisfaction by patients and their families in the category of Emotional Support, among 426 eligible facilities. Each year, NRC Health recognizes top-performing hospitals and health systems that have exhibited an exceptional commitment to understanding each individual patient’s complete care journey.

“Compassion for our patients and their families is one of our guiding principles,” said NIH Clinical Center Chief Executive Officer James K. Gilman, M.D. “Our staff understand that as a world class research facility we must provide the very best in safe, high quality patient-centric care and support. This is a particularly meaningful award in which every Clinical Center employee will take great pride.”

The Excellence Awards recognized the Clinical Center, along with 29 other facilities, for receiving the highest ratings in overall satisfaction by patients and their families in a variety of categories from April 2016 - March 2017. The NIH Clinical Center formally accepted the award at the 23rd Annual NRC Health Symposium for Patient-Centered Care in Boston earlier this month.

"Each year our partners inspire us with their commitment to service,” said Helen Hrdy, senior vice president of client service at NRC Health. “The individuals at these organizations show a genuine understanding for their patients, which is revealed in their extraordinary, compassionate care. It is always a special pleasure for us to honor and recognize these efforts with the Excellence Award. We congratulate the NIH Clinical Center for embodying human understanding and demonstrating a commitment to patient-centered care.”