Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals, has released America’s 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2017, and Northeast Georgia Medical Center is again among the best 50. Only one other Georgia hospital made either list, Piedmont Fayette, which also made the Best 50 list.
The recipients of the America’s 50 and 100 Best Hospitals Awards demonstrate superior clinical outcomes across the majority of common inpatient conditions and procedures* and sustained this performance for at least three consecutive years, according to a Healthgrades press release. Healthgrades research revealed that America’s Best Hospitals also outperform their peers in treating a core group of conditions that account for more than 80% of mortalities in areas evaluated by Healthgrades,including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis and stroke.
Patients treated in hospitals achieving the America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award have, on average, a 27.1% lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive this award.§ If all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to hospitals achieving Healthgrades 2017 America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award, on average, 179,438 lives could potentially have been saved.
According to a related whitepaper released today by Healthgrades, not only do America’s Best Hospitals demonstrate superior clinical outcomes, they also engage consumers as active participants in their care. For example:
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Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., implemented the Orthopedic Patient-Peer Partner program, an idea put forth by the medical center’s orthopedic patients themselves. Through this program, patients who have undergone joint replacement surgery at Virginia Mason can return as volunteers to support and encourage others who are preparing to undergo hip, knee or shoulder replacement.
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HealthPartners hospitals in Minnesota works with first responders to extend care to patients in their homes. Through the Community Paramedic Program, the two largest hospitals in the HealthPartners system are working with local first responders to help patients be active participants in their own care—while creating partnerships that benefit the entire community.
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Penrose St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, Colo., which has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 10 consecutive years, engages consumers using multiple strategies, including an intervisit communication program—piloted with Healthgrades in 2016—that acts as a digital health coach.
“Hospitals that have achieved America’s Best Hospitals™ distinction have sustained high quality outcomes for their patients over many years and often, offer programs that engage consumers and their overall communities in their care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer, Healthgrades. “Healthcare consumerism is requiring hospitals and health systems to innovate in a variety of areas, including quality, to meet growing expectations about the level of care, personalization and convenience.”
The hospitals that are among America’s 100 Best Hospitals are the top 2% in the nation for consistent clinical excellence and have consecutively received a Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for at least the last three years. The recipients of America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award have achieved the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for at least six consecutive years, placing them in the top 1% in the nation.
Access a complete list of the 2017 award recipients.
View Healthgrades hospital quality methodologies.
Learn more about how hospitals partner with Healthgrades.
