Penrose-St. Francis on list of best hospitals

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, managed by Centura Health, is the only Colorado hospital to be identified as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades, a Golden-based ratings group.
Hospitals on the list were found to have an average 27 percent lower mortality rate than other U.S. hospitals.
Released Feb.25, the ranking indicating quality is based on clinical outcomes from 100 million hospitalization records from 5,000 U.S. hospitals from 1999 to 2006. To make the list, facilities must have been in the top 5 percent in the nation for clinical outcomes of 27 procedures and diagnoses for all years studied.
The list, which also includes Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, is posted at www.healthgrades.com.

2008 visitor guide available

It’s here! The 2008 Official Visitor Guide to Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region has arrived. Copies are available at the Visitor Information Center, 515 S. Cascade Ave. By Friday, you should also be able to request a copy online, at www.experiencecoloradosprings.com. And early next week, a version will be available for download at the Web site. The guide is published as a joint venture between Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association.

USAA ranks tops in customer service

San Antonio-based financial services giant USAA, which has nearly 1,100 employees in Colorado Springs, tops BusinessWeek’s ranking of “Customer Service Champs” for the second consecutive year.
BusinessWeek's special report, “Customer Service Champs,” is featured in the March 3 issue, which hit newsstands Feb. 25. Additional content is at www.businessweek.com/magazine.

Uninsured artists get their own health insurance plans

Fractured Atlasa, a nonprofit oganization for artists and art organizations, in conjunction with Aetna, is offering health insurance for uninsured artists in 29 states, including Colorado.

Aetna Advantage PPO Plans for individuals and families will be available March 1 to more than 50,000 members of the Fractured Atlas Open Arts Network.

There are about 300,000 uninsured artists in the nation, according to Fractured Atlas and U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

Go to www.fracturedatlas.org/healthcare for enrollment information.

Parade of Homes deadline looms

The Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs won't hold its annual Parade of Homes until August, but the deadline to enter a home or development in the event is March 31. Developers and builders are invited to attend a Parade of Homes informational meeting at 4:30 p.m. March 6 at the HBA office, 4585 Hilton Parkway. More information: 592-1800, ext. 16, or trish@cshba.com.

Women in Business Conference & Athena Award luncheon scheduled in April

The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce's annual Women in Business Conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 17 at The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs. The conference will feature topics such as time management, business etiquette and personal stories of success. The annual Athena Award -- presented to an individual for business accomplishments, community service and helping women reach their full leadership potential -- will be given out during a luncheon that day. The luncheon cost is $65, while the cost for the luncheon and conference is $125. To nominate someone for the Athena Award, contact Jenifer at jenifer@cscc.org or 575-4313. RSVP at http://www.coloradospringschamber.org/.