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January 30, 2009
Study suggests top-rated US hospitals have 27 percent lower death rates than other hospitals
HealthDay (1/27, Preidt) reported, "The top-rated US hospitals have a 27 percent lower death rate than other hospitals, according to" HealthGrades' Seventh Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study.
Investigators "analyzed the records of about 41 million Medicare patients treated at the nation's almost 5,000 non-federal hospitals. The study of data from fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007 focused on 26 common diagnoses and procedures, including heart failure, heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, angioplasty, gastrointestinal surgeries, and sepsis." Data revealed that "in 2005, 2006, and 2007, the top-rated hospitals lowered their in-hospital risk-adjusted death rates by an average of 18 percent, compared to 13 percent for all other hospitals."
Forbes (1/27, Ruiz, David Whelan) noted that "improved safety rates clearly benefit patients, but they may also benefit the bottom line." The study "did not make a link between lower complication and mortality rates and lower premiums for medical malpractice insurance, improved safety rates may persuade underwriters to view the hospital as low-risk." Furthermore, "they may... decrease the number of medical malpractice claims, which cost insurers $7.1 billion in 2007."
Related Links:
- "America's Top Hospitals Cut Patient Death Rate 27%," Robert Preidt, HealthDay, January 27, 2009.
- "America's Safest Hospitals," Rebecca Ruiz and David Whelan, Forbes, January 27, 2009.
Posted by admin at January 30, 2009 03:20 PM