LINCOLN - Patients are promoting the positive work of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

The hospital got high marks on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site that ranks 176 hospitals in Illinois. The Hospital Compare site tabulates patient survey results and posts them at www.hospitalcare.hhs.gov.

The Lincoln hospital received perfect marks on several survey questions. The site does not rank hospitals on overall scores, but community development director Marty Ahrends said hospital officials have compared the rankings to other hospitals and ALMH compared favorably.

"We're obviously very proud that we had some high remarks in the survey and it reinforces what we know our patients feel about us and appreciate the fact we are giving terrific service and fulfilling their needs," said Ahrends.

Jennifer Harris, the hospital's director of operational quality and control, said a new procedure for dealing with pneumonia patients paid dividends in patient treatment and the survey.

"It helps validate the procedures we put in place and helps to plan for others," Harris said. "The pneumonia program was one that we place a lot of emphasis on because it affects a lot of people."

Once pneumonia is diagnosed, a team works to draw blood, administer breathing treatments and prescribe medication.

"The goal is to get the antibiotics administered within four hours from the time the patient enters the hospital," said Amy Lawrence, a registered nurse who audits the pneumonia charts. "Our average time has fallen to just under two hours with new procedures implemented last year."

Last year, 72 inpatients were treated for pneumonia.

"It's not just in the winter," Lawrence added. "It's all year long. There are patients up here every single day with pneumonia."

Harris said there are now a variety of similar Web sites and the hospital generally does very well.

"We monitor them and use them as resources because they indicate what we are doing well and point out some areas we need to concentrate on," she said. "It provides us with an outside, independent source to show our patients and vendors how we are doing."