Baltimore, MD, and Orlando, FL, Dec. 13, 1999 — HCIA and The Health Network today released the findings of the seventh annual 100 Top HospitalsÔ: Benchmarks for Success study, which names 100 of the nation’s top hospitals. The study is based solely on objective, quantitative performance data that are consistent and complete across all hospitals in the U.S. The study identifies top performing hospitals based upon quality of care, efficiency of operations, and sustainability of overall performance.

Highlights of the study’s findings include:

• If all U.S. hospitals were to operate like the 100 Top HospitalsÔ , savings to the industry would exceed $31 billion annually, resulting in lower costs and savings for U.S. taxpayers.

• Benchmark hospitals treat sicker patients while achieving better patient outcomes, as measured by mortality and complications.

• Hospitals recognized as the nation’s 100 Top HospitalsÔ are more efficient; they work with fewer staff, care for more patients, and are twice as profitable as other hospitals.

• The study revealed a regional disparity in performance, most notably in the number of top hospitals in the South (44) versus the Northeast (9). The results show there is variability in the levels of hospital performance caused by competition, managed care, and regulation.

"The announcement of the 100 Top HospitalsÔ is a timely response to President Clinton’s concern about hospital outcomes," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president of HCIA. "The 100 Top HospitalsÔ are shining examples of hospitals that have built a culture around continuous performance improvement."

Only one hospital in the nation — Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston — has been selected as a benchmark hospital all seven years the study has been conducted. Sixty-nine percent of this year’s benchmark hospitals have been named to the list more than once. Of those, nearly half have performed at benchmark levels for at least four years.

"With the explosion of available health news and information on television and the Internet, consumers are taking greater control of their personal health and expenses," said J. Tod Fetherling, senior vice president of TheHealthNetwork.com. "The 100 Top HospitalsÔ study helps consumers make informed decisions about their health care by learning which hospitals offer superior care at lower costs."

Study results will be made available to consumers on http://www.TheHealthNetwork.com. Full copies of the 1999 100 Top HospitalsÔ: Benchmarks for Success are available for purchase in TheHealthNetwork.com’s mall area.

The study analyzes the nation’s hospitals using empirical performance data from publicly available sources. This methodology ensures that the focus is on statistical rather than anecdotal evidence of top performance. The measures for the 1999 study stress quality of care, efficiency of operations and sustainability of overall performance.

The Health Network is the leading consumer-health destination on television and the Internet, where individuals can find the information they need to make informed decisions about their health. Doctors and other health experts provide credible, easy-to-understand health news and information 24 hours a day. Individuals can get more in-depth information and interact with doctors, experts and other individuals through the Internet at TheHealthNetwork.com. It is available in more than 17.5 million homes via cable and satellite and millions more on the Web. The Health Network is operated by FOX Networks, part of the FOX Entertainment Group.

Editors Note: Additional information can be found on TheHealthNetwork.com’s Web site under media information.

CONTACTS:

Media:
   Chris Jones
   Schneider Integrated Communications
   (212) 402-5455, ext. 104
   chris@schneiderintegrated.com

   Cynthia Sucher
   The Health Network
   (407) 224-6903
   csucher@thehealthnetwork.com

Providers:
   Jean Chenoweth
   HCIA, L.L.C.
   (734) 669-7941
   jchenoweth@solucient.com