Solucient Names Top Heart Hospitals; Finds Wide Variation in Survival Rates, Performance Among U.S. Hospitals
Winners demonstrate early adoption of new medical
technologies; market share leadership
EVANSTON, Ill. -- October 21, 2002
- An additional 4,400 heart disease patients could survive each
year if all hospitals performed at top levels
- Solucient 100 Top cardiovascular hospitals identified for 2002
A study released today by Solucient names the nations' 100 top cardiovascular
benchmark hospitals and finds that if all hospitals performed at the
level of these top facilities, an additional 4,400 cardiovascular
patients could survive each year. Moreover, U.S. health care could
save $880 million annually--an average savings of more than $1,400
in costs per cardiology case.
The fourth annual study also finds:
- Post-surgical infection rates could decrease by 18 percent in
non-winning hospitals, while post-procedural hemorrhage rates could
decrease 26 percent, if those facilities improved to the winning
hospital or "benchmark" performance level.
- The average length of stay for cardiac patients could decrease
by more than half a day--eliminating 402,000 patient days each year--if
all hospitals achieved the best-performance level.
"These new benchmarks demonstrate that many American hospitals
are successfully raising the bar for improved cardiovascular outcomes
every year," explained Jean Chenoweth, executive director of
the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals research program. "Because the
selection of winners is based solely on objective analysis of cardiovascular
outcomes in all U.S. hospitals, the 'winners' are not just the hospitals
themselves, but also the communities where these high performing hospitals
are located."
The annual study, Solucient 100 Top Hospitals®: Cardiovascular
Benchmarks for Success--2002, included, for the first time, new
measures of congestive heart failure performance and procedure volume.
"Congestive heart failure is one of the main reasons for cardiovascular
admission among Medicare patients, and by including this measure we
broadened the study in the medical patient population," said
Janet Young, M.D., clinical research consultant at Solucient. Procedure
volume was included to track its influence as a positive factor in
hospital performance.
Additional findings show that:
- The 100 top benchmark cardiovascular hospitals have higher procedure
volumes than their peers, and this remained an important factor
in outcomes. For example, benchmark hospitals performed a median
of at least 80 percent more angioplasty procedures and bypass surgeries
than non-winning peer hospitals.
- Median complication rates were lower, and average survival rates
were markedly higher at the benchmark hospitals, particularly for
patients with congestive heart failure and patients undergoing angioplasty
or bypass surgery. For instance, benchmark hospitals had a median
of 26 percent fewer deaths for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
surgery compared to non-winning hospitals.
- Solucient 100 Top Hospitals demonstrated lower costs and shorter
lengths of stay for CABG's performed both "off pump" (without
a heart-lung machine during surgery) and "on pump" than
did peer hospitals. In additional analysis, hospitals that have
won the award three times or more demonstrated the shortest lengths
of stay and the lowest costs for both approaches to CABG.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the country's most serious health
problems and is the leading cause of death, killing nearly one million
Americans annually, according to the American Heart Association. It
accounts for at least 300,000 Medicare hospitalizations annually,
and tallies an estimated $330 billion in medical and disability costs.
Solucient's annual cardiovascular study identifies hospitals that
display superior performance in the clinical management of cardiovascular
disease. Its aim is to provide benchmarks to improve the standard
of care in cardiology, including specific procedures and conditions.
The winners of the award are stratified in categories or peer groups
that represent hospitals throughout the country. They include 30 teaching
hospitals with cardiovascular residency programs, 40 teaching hospitals
without cardiovascular residency programs, and 30 community hospitals.
The study uses detailed clinical and patient management information,
including Solucient's DRG (Diagnostic Related Group) and hospital
database, as well as publicly available MEDPAR data (Medicare Provider
Analysis and Review).
The study focuses on hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of cardiology
patients and includes all hospitals that had at least 30 unique cases
in each of the following groups for 1999 and 2000:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Hospitals that met these criteria were analyzed according to the
following measures of clinical quality practices and efficiency of
operations:
- Procedure volume threshold
- Risk-adjusted medical mortality
- Risk-adjusted surgical mortality
- Risk-adjusted complications index
- Percentage of CABG patients with internal mammary artery use
- Severity-adjusted average length of stay
- Wage-and severity-adjusted average cost
Solucient is the leading source of health care business intelligence.
Its mission is to provide comprehensive, results-oriented information
to drive business growth, manage costs, and deliver quality care.
Solucient's expertise and proven solutions enable providers, payers,
employers, and pharmaceutical companies to achieve results and realize
value. By bridging the gap between data and information, knowledge
and value, Solucient drives intelligent business decisions. For more
information, visit the Solucient Web site at www.solucient.com.
Additional information can be found at http://www.100TopHospitals.com
under media information. Copies of the report can be purchased by
calling Solucient at 1.800.568.3282.
2002 Solucient 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals
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Arizona Heart Hospital
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Phoenix
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AZ
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Phoenix Memorial Hospital
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Phoenix
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AZ
|
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Walter O Boswell Memorial Hospital
|
Sun City
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AZ
|
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Glendale Memorial Hospital
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Glendale
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CA
|
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Loma Linda University Medical Center
|
Loma Linda
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CA
|
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Methodist Hospital of Southern Calif
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Arcadia
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CA
|
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Scripps Green Hospital
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La Jolla
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CA
|
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St Helena Hospital
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Deer Park
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CA
|
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Torrance Memorial Medical Center
|
Torrance
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CA
|
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Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital
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Denver
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CO
|
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Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
|
Hartford
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CT
|
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Charlotte Regional Medical Center
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Punta Gorda
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FL
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Florida Hospital
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Orlando
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FL
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Halifax Medical Center
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Daytona Beach
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FL
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Holy Cross Hospital
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Fort Lauderdale
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FL
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Lakeland Regional Medical Center
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Lakeland
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FL
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Largo Medical Center
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Largo
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FL
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Lee Memorial Health System
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Fort Myers
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FL
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Morton Plant Hospital
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Clearwater
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FL
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Mt Sinai Medical Center
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Miami Beach
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FL
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Munroe Regional Medical Center
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Ocala
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FL
|
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Ocala Regional Medical Center
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Ocala
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FL
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Orlando Regional Healthcare System
|
Orlando
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FL
|
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Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point
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Hudson
|
FL
|
|
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
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Sarasota
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FL
|
|
St Joseph 's Hospital
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Tampa
|
FL
|
|
University Medical Center
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Jacksonville
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FL
|
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Memorial Medical Center
|
Savannah
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GA
|
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St Luke's Regional Medical Center
|
Boise
|
ID
|
|
Loyola University Medical Center
|
Maywood
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IL
|
|
Northwest Community Hospital
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Arlington Heights
|
IL
|
|
Saint Francis Hospital and Healthcare Center
|
Blue Island
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IL
|
|
Central Baptist Hospital
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Lexington
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KY
|
|
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Ctr
|
LaFayette
|
LA
|
|
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
|
Boston
|
MA
|
|
Brigham and Women's Hospital
|
Boston
|
MA
|
|
Lahey Clinic Hospital
|
Burlington
|
MA
|
|
Massachusetts General Hospital
|
Boston
|
MA
|
|
Tufts-New England Medical Center Hospital
|
Boston
|
MA
|
|
University Hospital
|
Boston
|
MA
|
|
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
|
Baltimore
|
MD
|
|
St Joseph Medical Center
|
Towson
|
MD
|
|
Northern Michigan Hospital
|
Petoskey
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MI
|
|
Providence Hospital and Medical Center
|
Southfield
|
MI
|
|
Spectrum Health Downtown Campus
|
Grand Rapids
|
MI
|
|
St John Hospital & Medical Center
|
Detroit
|
MI
|
|
St Joseph Mercy Hospital
|
Pontiac
|
MI
|
|
North Memorial Health Care
|
Robbinsdale
|
MN
|
|
St. Cloud Hospital
|
Saint Cloud
|
MN
|
|
St. Mary's Duluth Clinic Health System
|
Duluth
|
MN
|
|
Boone Hospital Center
|
Columbia
|
MO
|
|
St. John's Mercy Medical Center
|
Saint Louis
|
MO
|
|
St. Luke's Hospital
|
Chesterfield
|
MO
|
|
St Vincent HealthCare
|
Billings
|
MT
|
|
Mission St. Joseph 's Health System
|
Asheville
|
NC
|
|
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
|
Greenville
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NC
|
|
St Luke's Hospitals--Meritcare
|
Fargo
|
ND
|
|
BryanLGH Medical Center-East
|
Lincoln
|
NE
|
|
Lenox Hill Hospital
|
New York
|
NY
|
|
Maimonides Medical Center
|
Brooklyn
|
NY
|
|
North Shore University Hospital
|
Manhasset
|
NY
|
|
Rochester General Hospital
|
Rochester
|
NY
|
|
St. Peter's Hospital
|
Albany
|
NY
|
|
Bethesda Hospital
|
Cincinnati
|
OH
|
|
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
|
Cleveland
|
OH
|
|
Columbia Mercy Medical Center
|
Canton
|
OH
|
|
Deaconess Hospital
|
Cincinnati
|
OH
|
|
Good Samaritan Hospital
|
Dayton
|
OH
|
|
The Christ Hospital
|
Cincinnati
|
OH
|
|
University Hospital
|
Cincinnati
|
OH
|
|
Good Samaritan Hospital--Corvallis
|
Corvallis
|
OR
|
|
Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital & MC
|
Portland
|
OR
|
|
Providence Portland Medical Center
|
Portland
|
OR
|
|
Rogue Valley Medical Center
|
Medford
|
OR
|
|
Sacred Heart Medical Center
|
Eugene
|
OR
|
|
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
|
Johnstown
|
PA
|
|
Lancaster General Hospital
|
Lancaster
|
PA
|
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Lehigh Valley Hospital
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Allentown
|
PA
|
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Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
|
Hershey
|
PA
|
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Presbyterian Medical Center
|
Philadelphia
|
PA
|
|
St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network
|
Bethlehem
|
PA
|
|
UPMC Shadyside Hospital
|
Pittsburgh
|
PA
|
|
Miriam Hospital
|
Providence
|
RI
|
|
Medical University of South Carolina
|
Charleston
|
SC
|
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Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee
|
Knoxville
|
TN
|
|
Saint Thomas Health Services
|
Nashville
|
TN
|
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St Mary's Medical Center
|
Knoxville
|
TN
|
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Baylor University Medical Center
|
Dallas
|
TX
|
|
Scott & White Memorial Hospital
|
Temple
|
TX
|
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LDS Hospital
|
Salt Lake City
|
UT
|
|
St. Marks Hospital
|
Salt Lake City
|
UT
|
|
Chippenham/Johnston-Willis Hosp
|
Richmond
|
VA
|
|
Inova Fairfax Hospital
|
Falls Church
|
VA
|
|
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
|
Norfolk
|
VA
|
|
Deaconess Medical Center
|
Spokane
|
WA
|
|
Providence General Medical Center
|
Everett
|
WA
|
|
Providence St Peter Hospital
|
Olympia
|
WA
|
|
St Elizabeth Hospital
|
Appleton
|
WI
|
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St Joseph 's Hospital
|
Marshfield
|
WI
|
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Wausau Hospital
|
Wausau
|
WI
|
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