CalvertHealth Medical Center
(CHMC) has achieved a 5-star
overall hospital quality rating
from the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS),
placing it among the top 10%
of hospitals nationwide. The
5-star rating from CMS is
considered highly significant
because it is based solely on
objective data and patient
outcomes.
CalvertHealth was one of only four hospitals in
Maryland to receive 5 stars – the highest possible rating a
hospital can receive. CMS annually releases their updated
star ratings for thousands of Medicare-certified hospitals
nationwide. The ratings are based on performance of 46
hospital quality measures. These measures are divided
into five quality categories: mortality, safety of care,
readmission rates, patient experience, and timely and
effective care.
CMS developed the program in 2007 to help
consumers make more informed decisions by giving them
a way to compare hospitals based on quality ratings. CMS
awarded 90 fewer hospitals five stars in 2025 compared
to 2024. (See chart at left for National Distribution of
Overall Hospital Star Quality Rating).
“This is an incredible achievement,” said
CalvertHealth President and CEO Jeremy Bradford.
“This national recognition speaks to our commitment to
excellence in clinical quality, operational performance
and patient outcomes.”
He went on to add, “At CalvertHealth, our vision is
clear – to be the trusted healthcare provider, delivering a
lifetime of exceptional care. That vision drives everything
we do. To our patients, our families, our community – this
is for you. Thank you for trusting us with your care.”
Quality Care that Puts Patients First
“It is precisely our patient-centered focus that motivates
us to continually improve so that we deliver the best
care in the safest way possible,” said Nicole Hedderich,
MHA, RN, CPHQ, CPHRM, Associate Vice President for
Quality & Risk Management.
She added, “Patient safety and quality of care are embedded
in everything we do every day for every patient. It will always
be our number one priority. By achieving a 5-star rating, we
are underscoring our commitment to high-quality care to the
community we serve.
“Our patients deserve to know when they step through the
doors of CalvertHealth, they are doing so with the confidence the
care they are receiving is top-notch,” said Hedderich.
She went on to explain, “The overall star rating measures not
only the safety of care provided, but also the efficiency with which
we manage care for our patients. We also strive for the patient
to enter and exit our facility with a confidence level that all their
interactions with our staff were comprehensive, effective, and were
provided with compassion and kindness.
“The star ratings include all these aspects of experience, not
just the clinical care, but how we made you feel when you were
here,” said Hedderich.
Continuing to Raise the Bar
She stressed, “Just because we’ve reached our goal (of a 5-star
rating) does not mean our work stops here.”
At CalvertHealth, performance improvement is seamlessly
integrated into every aspect of patient care, aligning with
our mission: to improve the health and well-being of those
we serve.”
She touched on several examples to elaborate. For instance,
daily leadership safety huddles, weekly and quarterly executive
rounding and dedicated safety committees continue to improve care
by promoting communication, identifying concerns and addressing
issues in real-time.
“There are always going to be opportunities to do better and we
recognize that, but it’s a commitment to integrity,” said Hedderich.
“We’re in it (health care) because we care about our patients.”
She added, “Our achievement of a 5-star rating did not
happen by luck. We are a high-achieving team that has remained
dedicated, focused and driven in providing high-quality care for our
community.”