SHELTON, WA – Mason Health is proud to announce two Excellence in Healthcare Awards from Professional Research Consultants (PRC), a leader in the healthcare intelligence space. The Birth Center at Mason General Hospital received a Five Star award, ranking top 10% nationally for Overall Hospital Rating, according to the 2025 Inpatient OB/GYN Services Normative Database. Mason General Hospital’s Inpatient Services team earned a Four Star award, placing in the top 25% nationally for Overall Hospital Rating, based on the 2025 Inpatient Services Normative Database.

The PRC Excellence in Healthcare Award celebrates organizations and individuals that have achieved excellence throughout the prior year. Award recipients represent the best of the best among healthcare facilities across the nation. As a Public Hospital District and the only hospital in Mason County, providing excellent care to the community is always top of mind. These two awards are a representation of Mason Health’s vision to Provide the Best Patient-Centered Care in the Pacific Northwest.

“In rural healthcare, patient experience is deeply personal. Our patients are our neighbors, and every encounter is an opportunity to provide dignity, compassion, and trust close to home,” said Melissa Strong, MSN, RHCNOC, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Mason Health. “We are so proud of the work team members put in everyday to ensure the patients and their families have the best experience possible.” 

There are many Mason Health employees who are natives or longtime residents of Mason County and care deeply about delivering the highest quality patient care to their family, friends, and the community that raised them. 

“My first was born in room 132 of the Mason Health’s birth center back in 2004 where my now manager, Kris Gaa, was my labor nurse. Having been raised, going to school, and working within local school districts and head starts, my favorite part of Mason Health is that I am now helping children of former classmates, and even toddlers I took care of in childcare welcome their babies into this world. I get to be a part of the most special day and support my community holistically,” said Carissa Pierce, RN, a Birth Center nurse.

“I’ve been in Mason County my whole life. This community helped me get through nursing school with different scholarships, so I’m happy to be able to give back to them through my work,” said Rachel Scheirman, RN, an ICU nurse. “My favorite thing about Mason Health is you develop friendships. Going down the hallway, you recognize so many faces, most everyone knows each other’s name, and you feel welcomed whether you’re a new employee, a patient, or a family member in need.”

Patient experience – good or bad – has as much to do with patients themselves as it does with how satisfied and gratified nurses feel every day. When nurses are happier and can see the immediate and long-term impact of their work, it reflects in the work they do.

“It is always a challenge to meet the needs of patients when they are their most vulnerable, but our teams of caregivers and providers go above and beyond to do what they can to deliver excellent holistic care," said Sharon Reclusado, RN, Medical Surgical Pediatrics nurse. “Nursing here can be demanding but moments where patients stabilize or express appreciation stand out as especially rewarding.”

“The most rewarding moment is when a family thanks you for the care that you provided, the advocacy you delivered, and the love and kindness you showed them during their stay,” said Pierce. “Sometimes you get a hug, sometimes they want to take a picture of you with their brand-new babe. It is just an absolute honor.”

“I feel the most rewarded when a patient comes back to visit, say thank you, and ‘show off’ how well they’re doing. Or if a family member sends a card for taking care of their loved one, it makes me feel like I had a real impact,” said Scheirman.

“I enjoy being able to help patients and their families navigate the difficult time during their illness and provide support, education, and encouragement any way I can,” said Lacy Eveland, RN, Medical Surgical Pediatrics nurse. “I have too many memorable and rewarding moments to share one in particular, but it’s really nice when I get to admit someone, help them get better, and also be the one to discharge them home.”

Depending on who you ask, patient experience can mean something slightly different to everyone, but the idea generally revolves around certain themes. At Mason Health, with our vision in mind and our mission of United Community, Empowered People, Exceptional Health, those themes are respect, care, compassion, and communication.

“Patient experience is so important. If you have ever stayed in the hospital, you know that the care, compassion, and overall environment can make or break your experience within that hospital system. In the Birth Center, we aim to put our patients first, and it shows,” said Pierce. 

“Patient experience means making sure patients feel heard, respected, informed, and cared for throughout their healthcare journey,” said Scheirman. Being open with information about the current plan of care helps patients feel involved, informed, and well communicated with.”

“The patient experience comes down to consistent, respectful care and clear communication, especially during uncertain circumstances. It is important that the patients feel these qualities from the staff,” said Reclusado.

“Patient experience isn’t just how satisfied a person is with the care – it’s the quality of the education they receive, the level of empathy, compassion, and patience they experience in their time of need and vulnerability,” said Eveland. “I try to care for every patient the way I would hope someone else would care for my loved ones.”

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. The Board of Hospital District Commissioners are Don Welander, President, Lori Brady, Secretary, and Pamela Schlauderaff, Trustee. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards, the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and the 2025 Emerald Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masonhealth.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.