[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E125-E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING ADVENTIST HEALTH HOWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 2020

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Adventist 
Health Howard Memorial Hospital for its recent five-star rating by the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This rating reflects the 
hard work and dedication of Adventist Health Howard Memorial's staff 
and their commitment to high quality, patient-centered care.
  In 1925, members of the Willits Development Association discussed the 
need for a community hospital. This group included Charles S. Howard, 
the owner of a nearby ranch and the racehorse Seabiscuit. In 1926, 
Charles Howard's 15-year-old son died in an automobile accident, and 
the family felt a lack of emergency equipment and access to hospital 
facilities contributed to his death. Charles Howard donated substantial 
funds toward the construction of the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital 
to be built in honor of his son. The hospital admitted its first 
patient in 1928.
  Of the more than 4,500 hospitals rated by the Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services (CMS) this year, Adventist Health Howard Memorial 
Hospital is one of only 407 hospitals to receive a five-star rating. 
This rating is based on the hospital's performance across seven metrics 
of quality, including patient experience and readmission rates.
  In addition to this rating, the hospital recently received a 
Planetree Gold Certification which reflects ``Excellence in Person-
Centered Care''. It is an evidence-based certification program that 
provides a framework for healthcare providers to improve overall health 
and well-being by engaging patients, families, staff, and the wider 
community in tailoring

[[Page E126]]

medical care to meet the needs of individual patients.
  Madam Speaker, Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital's receipt of 
these prestigious designations showcases the high standard of care 
provided by this important rural, critical-access hospital. Please join 
me in congratulating the leadership and staff responsible for these 
achievements.

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