For Immediate Release: November 16, 2011

Contact: Tim Butler (217) 757-6818 tim.butler@st-johns.org

ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL, HOME OF THE PRAIRIE HEART INSTITUTE, NAMED ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP 50 CARDIOVASCULAR HOSPITALS

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL—St. John’s Hospital, home of the Prairie Heart Institute, 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 coronary stents.

This is the fourth time St. John’s has been recognized with this honor. This year’s winners were announced November 14 in Modern Healthcare magazine.

“Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital has long been the region’s cardiac care leader,” said Charles L. Lucore, MD, FACC, Executive Director of Prairie Heart Institute. “This award, along with other recent recognitions for quality of care, confirms that the Prairie Heart Institute is the place to be if you need heart care. I would like to thank Thomson Reuters for this designation and congratulate all the staff at Prairie Heart Institute and St. John’s for the hard work they do every day to provide exceptional care for our patients.”

“St. John’s Prairie Heart Institute consistently ranks among the nation’s premier heart hospitals and this announcement underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality care to our patients,” added Bob Ritz, President and CEO, St. John’s Hospital.  “The physicians, clinicians and staff members who care for our heart patients can be proud that their good work is being recognized as among the very best in the country.”

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.

“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.”

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.

About Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital: Prairie Heart Institute is a national leader in cardiovascular care. St. John’s was named one of the nation’s 50 Top hospitals for cardiovascular care by Thomson Reuters for 2012.  HealthGrades designated St. John’s as a recipient of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Overall Cardiac Services and Cardiac Surgery for 2012.PHI at St. John’s Hospital was also named one of the nation’s Top 50 hospitals for coronary bypass surgery in 2010. This recognition was based on data submitted by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

About Hospital Sisters Health System: Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a multi-institutional health care system that sponsors 13 hospitals in 12 communities across Illinois and Wisconsin and an integrated physician network. As our name implies, we are a healing ministry guided by the historic mission of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. At the same time, we are firmly grounded in modern best practices. Learn more by visiting www.hshs.org.

Thomson Reuters
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