Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital has been designated a 2012Hospital of Choice for Service Excellence by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers (AAHCP), signifying it as one of America's most customer-friendly hospitals.

Choice Hospitals are selected based on their competence, communication, reputation, good citizenship, and customer service skills exhibited everyday by staff and management.

The American Alliance of Healthcare Providers was founded in 1992 to develop strategies to improve service delivery in healthcare. The Hospital of Choice Awards was created in 2002 to identify hospitals that excel in service delivery and maintain a comprehensive dedication to patient satisfaction.

"This award is a direct reflection of the dedication, caring and hard work our employees display every day," said Rick Linneweh, Jr, CEO of Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. "It also shows our commitment as an institution to provide safe, high-quality and compassionate care to our patients."

Every year, the Alliance evaluates approximately 1,600 hospitals for Hospital of Choice Award consideration, and selects a top 100 annually. The award is based on an extensive private review of a facility's public communications, staff interaction with customers, and public information available about each facility. See the list of 2012 Top 100 winners.

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