William Atkins
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 19:44
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The HealthGrades article also broke down various statistics that they found during the study in its October 13, 2009 press release “
HealthGrades study: 52% lower chance of dying at top-rated hospitals” (pdf file).
Based on mortality, complications, and stroke, they are:
Mortality
•
Overall, inhospital, risk-adjusted mortality at the nation’s hospitals improved, on average, 10.99% from 2006 through 2008.
• Across all 17 procedures and diagnoses in which mortality was studied, there was an approximate 71.64% lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital.
• Across all 17 procedures and diagnoses studied, there was an approximate 51.53% lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to the national average.
• If all hospitals performed at the level of a 5-star rated hospital across the 17 procedures and diagnoses studied, 224,537 Medicare lives could potentially have been saved from 2006 through 2008.
• Approximately 57% (127,488) of the potentially preventable deaths were associated with four diagnoses: sepsis (44,622); pneumonia (29,251); heart failure (26,374) and respiratory failure (27,241).
• Over the last three studies, Ohio and Florida consistently have had the greatest percentage of hospitals in the top 15% for risk-adjusted mortality.
Page three continues with the headings "Complications" and "Stroke."
