The HCIA-Sachs Institute created the 100 Top Hospitals™: Benchmarks for Success program in 1993 as one facet of its mission to improve health care through improved information. The models that we at the Institute developed to produce the 100 Top Hospitals™ studies use empirical, publicly available performance data to identify hospitals that excel in their clinical practices, operations, and financial management. By identifying benchmark hospitals that provide high-quality care, operate efficiently, and produce superior financial results, we offer the health care industry a direction for positive change.

Since publishing the first 100 Top Hospitals™: Benchmarks for Success study in 1993, HCIA-Sachs has annually measured and analyzed the clinical and financial rigors of the hospital industry and honored more than 615 unique institutions.

100 Top Hospitals: Stroke Benchmarks for Success is the latest in the service line series. This study specifically focuses on the primary type of stroke--ischemic. Ischemic stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 160,000 Americans every year. The field is exploding with revolutionary care and treatment options. In fact, major advances that will impact the future of stroke care may be right around the corner. By performing this study we hope to inform the public about the quality institutions that treat these conditions and the outcomes they produce.

Given the highly technical nature of stroke services, it is unrealistic to expect all hospitals to be able to conform to the benchmark standards. But the desire to increase awareness for the industry and raise the bar for acceptable outcomes across the country is realistic. Our hope is to accomplish this and narrow the gap between the top performers and the industry at large.