BROWNS MILLS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Deborah Heart and Lung Center has been named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Reuters.
The study examined the performance of more than 1,000 hospitals by analyzing outcomes for patients with heart failure and heart attacks and for those who received coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions such as angioplasties.
This is the first time Deborah has been recognized with this honor. This year’s winners were announced November 14 in Modern Healthcare magazine.
“We are thrilled to have been recognized as an excellent cardiovascular hospital by Thomson Reuters,” said Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s President and CEO, Joseph P. Chirichella. “As a specialty hospital we strive to provide the very best to our patients, including the most advanced and sophisticated procedures, cutting-edge technologies, and care available in the today’s high-tech cardiac environment. More importantly, our physicians, nurses, technical and support staff work very hard to make sure that our patients have the very best outcomes from their surgeries and procedures. Our after-care is of superior quality, rivaling that of our medical offerings. This combination means that our patients have access to state-of-the-art care, with excellent outcomes and will heal promptly, and properly, with minimal readmissions.”
“This year’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals have continued to deliver excellent care and have been able to improve their performance in a tough economic climate," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals® program at Thomson Reuters. “The hospitals in this study have provided measurably better care and are more efficient than their peers, demonstrating incredibly strong focus by hospital leadership at a time when the healthcare system is steeped in volatility.”
The study shows that 97 percent of cardiovascular inpatients in U.S. hospitals survive and approximately 96 percent remain complication-free, reflecting improved cardiovascular care across-the-board over the past year. The 50 top hospitals’ performance surpasses these high-water marks as indicated by:
- Better risk-adjusted survival rates (23 percent fewer deaths than non-winning hospitals for bypass surgery patients).
- Lower complications indices (40 percent lower rate of heart failure complications).
- Fewer patients readmitted to the hospital after 30 days.
- Shorter hospital visits and lower costs. Top hospitals discharge bypass patients nearly a full day sooner and spend $4,200 less per bypass case than non-winners.
- Increased use of internal mammary artery (IMA) for coronary artery bypass surgeries. Top hospitals have increased their use of this recommended procedure from 88 to 96 percent.
The study evaluated general and applicable specialty, short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals treating a broad spectrum of cardiology patients.
Thomson Reuters researchers analyzed 2009 and 2010 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, Medicare cost reports, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data. They scored hospitals in key performance areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.
CONTACT:
For Deborah Heart and Lung Center
Donna McArdle, 609-893-1200 ext. 5845
KEYWORDS: United States North America New Jersey
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Cardiology Hospitals Other Health Communications Publishing Nursing General Health
MEDIA: