Fast Facts:
100 Top Hospitals®: National Benchmarks for Success — 2003

WHAT IS IT?

The 11th edition of the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals®: National Benchmarks for Success study identifies industry benchmarks by recognizing U.S. hospitals that demonstrate superior clinical, operational, and financial performance.

WHO CONDUCTED THE STUDY?

The study is presented by Solucient.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

The study was released on May 24, 2004.

WHICH HOSPITALS WON?

For a complete list of winners, click here.

HOW WERE THE WINNERS CHOSEN?

We assigned each hospital in the study group to one of five comparison groups according to bed size, teaching status, and residency program involvement. Within the comparison groups, we ranked hospitals on the basis of their performance on key measures relative to other hospitals in their group. We then summed each hospital's performance-measure ranking to arrive at a total ranking for the hospital. The hospitals with the best total ranking in each comparison group were selected as the benchmarks.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS?

This year's benchmark hospitals have higher survival rates, lower complication rates, and lower expenses than their peers. Among the key findings:

• The nation's top performing hospitals are more likely to address the needs of the terminally ill through hospice services than other acute care U.S. hospitals
• Benchmark hospitals had a nearly 18% lower mortality rate than peer hospitals, while patients at 100 Top hospitals had 13% fewer complications.
• Patients at winning hospitals return to everyday life faster than those at non-winning hospitals. These patients were released nearly half a day sooner, on average, than patients at peer hospitals.
• Expenses per discharge at benchmark hospitals were 16 percent lower than peer hospitals ($4,147 benchmark vs. $4,950 peer).
• Winning hospitals pay more to attract quality staff. Salary and benefits per full-time employee were nearly 3 percent higher than peer hospitals.
• Benchmark hospitals treat more - and sicker - patients than non-winning hospitals. The median patient Medicare case mix index at winning hospitals was 22 percent higher than at peer hospitals. Benchmark hospitals also had 24 percent more admissions per bed.
• Winning hospitals use a higher percentage of special care days for their patients - 14 percent vs. 11 percent for peer hospitals.
• The cash flow to total debt ratio at benchmark hospitals was nearly 119% higher than peer hospitals.

• Major Teaching - 15 winners
• Teaching - 25 winners
• Large Community, 250+ Beds - 21 winners (due to tie)
• Medium Community, 100 to 249 Beds - 20 winners
• Small Community, 25 to 99 Beds - 20 winners

WHO DO I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?

All media inquiries should be made to Ginny Sexton at Solucient; gsexton@solucient.com.

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