Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin as a combined campus scored high marks for overall hospital quality — earning a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to a press release. Hospitals received ratings of one to five stars with the national average being three out of five stars. A five-star ranking this year was an improved score for MCHS Albert Lea and Austin from its previous year of four stars.

“We are honored to receive an outstanding five-star rating from CMS,” said Mark Ciota, M.D. and CEO at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin. “It recognizes the exceptional level of care our staff provides each day to our patients and our continued commitment to provide quality healthcare to our communities.”

The purpose of the star rating is to provide patients and consumers with information about multiple dimensions of quality in a single score. The star rating system is based on information from annual state health inspections, staffing ratios and a range of different quality measures such as cleanliness, staff responsiveness, readmissions, infections and pain management. Scores in each of these three areas are then used to determine the overall star rating.

Mayo Clinic had 14 overall hospitals receive a star rating this year, including Arizona, Florida and Rochester.

Five stars

• Mayo Clinic’s campuses in Arizona and Rochester

• Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea/Austin and Eau Claire

Four stars

• Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida

• Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Mankato, New Prague, Northland, Red Wing and Red Cedar    

Three stars

• Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls, Sparta and Fairmont

“Mayo Clinic is pleased to be highly rated by the CMS Star Rating System,” Paula Santrach, chief quality officer at Mayo Clinic said. “We believe that this rating reflects the passionate dedication of Mayo Clinic staff to provide the highest quality, safety and service to patients who entrust us with their care.”