MT. KISCO, N.Y. — Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), located in Mt. Kisco, was recently named as a Planetree Designated Patient-Centered Hospital with Distinction by Derby, Conn.-based Planetree Inc. Planetree Inc. is a mission-based, not-for-profit organization that partners with health care organizations around the world and across the care continuum to transform how care is delivered, according to the company.

This is not the first time the hospital has been designated and redesignated. In fact, nine years ago, NWH was one of the first hospitals to be recognized by Planetree, and since then has been redesignated by the nonprofit three times (each time a hospital is designated it retains that designation for a three-year time period). In order to qualify for the prestigious designation, hospitals must meet a list of strict criteria that focuses on the patient experience as well as the experience of family members, front-line staff, leadership teams, medical staff, patient and family advisors, and board members, according to Planetree’s website.

The distinction revolves around several core dimensions of patient-centered care, including, but not limited to:

• Structures and functions necessary for culture change

• Human interactions

• Promoting patient education, choice and responsibility

• Family involvement

• Dining, food and nutrition

• Healing environment

• Healthy communities

NWH is one of 80 hospitals to receive Planetree’s recognition, but one of only nine to be Designated with Distinction. NWH is also a teaching hospital and welcomes hospitals from around the world to share best practices. It has assisted numerous hospitals in replicating patient-centered care programs in their facilities, according to NWH.

An independent committee of international health care experts and CEOs from previously designated hospitals makes all designation determinations, according to Planetree.