Sentara Obici Hospital has been named a 2012 winner of National Research Corporation Picker’s third annual “Path to Excellence” award, recognizing health care organizations for their dedication to improving the patient experience.

NRC Picker is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of patient care through surveys of patients and their families.

The hospital was cited as the sole champion for patient-centered care based on overall performance between April 2011 and March 2012. Sentara Obici was also recognized as a Path to Excellence Award winner in the following patient-centered care dimensions: continuity and transition, coordination of care, emotional support, information and education, physical comfort and respect for patient preference.

NRC Picker noted that among 208 facilities, Sentara Obici had one of the highest combined percentages of patients rating it positively in six of the eight dimensions of patient-centered care.

“Our selection is a testament to the front line staff, who see patients every day,” said Dr. Steve Julian, president of Sentara Obici. “They are the face of Sentara Obici Hospital.”

“It means a lot to us that the public we’re serving identifies our efforts in such a positive manner,” he added.

Sentara Obici is a 168-bed, full-service hospital in Suffolk. The 10-year-old facility integrates advanced technologies, including Sentara eCare, which gives doctors immediate access to patients’ health information through a secure network.