The MUSC Medical Center is the only institution in the Charleston market to receive this award, and this is the eleventh year in a row that the medical center has been recognized.

The National Research Corporation (NRC) said that the winners are the hospitals that consumers choose as having the highest quality and image in 250 markets throughout the U.S.

MUSC was ranked #1 in the following categories:

The NRC Consumer Choice Award
National Research Corporation annually provides Consumer Choice Awards for the most-preferred hospitals in more than 250 U.S. Markets. Winners are selected from the nation's most comprehensive, nationwide consumer health care profile, the NRC Healthcare Market Guide®.  

Data found in the HCMG represents consumer surveys from nearly 200,000 households. in the U.S.  Consumer Choice Awards for hospitals are based on consumer preference responses. This is the thirteenth year NRC has awarded hospitals whose consumers have recognized them for providing quality healthcare services.

2008/2009 Consumer Choice Award - Quality and Image Profile
Ginny Martin, President of NRC's Healthcare Market Guide Division, said winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company's Healthcare Market Guide Ticker study.  Of the 3,200 hospitals named by consumers in the study, the winning facilities rank highest in their Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), as defined by the US Census Bureau. 

"Consumers continue to be empowered to make decisions for themselves and their families when selecting their healthcare facilities and services," Martin said.  "As care options multiply and consumer perception of quality grows in importance, dedication to providing a high level of quality healthcare becomes essential for hospitals.  These Consumer Choice award winners exemplify the dedication it takes to provide quality healthcare to their communities, and we are pleased to honor them through the eyes of their patients."

NRC's Healthcare Market Guide Ticker is the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of its kind.  No other study used to measure hospital performance and preferences contains more consumer responses than NRCs study.  The study has a margin of error of + or 0.2 percent at a national level.  Co-winners are named when scores fall within the statistical margin of error for a given market.

National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCI) is an industry leader, with more than two decades of experience in healthcare performance measurement and improvement.