Genesis One of Nation’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals

Honor comes this week from Thomson Reuters

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport has been named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Reuters for outstanding outcomes and efficiency.

The ranking was based on a study of 1,022 hospitals that analyzed outcomes for patients with heart failure and heart attacks and for those who received coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions, such as angioplasties.

The Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street campus was the only hospital in Iowa and the Quad Cities region to make the list that included Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Phoenix, Cleveland Clinic Florida and oher prestigious institutions.

"Genesis has worked very hard and has worked collaboratively to ensure  our heart patients have access to a high standard of care that compares favorably with the best in the country,'' said Doug Cropper, President and CEO, Genesis Health System.  "To be recognized among the elite of cardiovascular care in the United States is a tribute to everyone at Genesis who touches the lives of heart patients. We are proud of everyone's efforts in earning this important recognition.''

According to Thomson-Reuters, 7,543 lives could be saved annually; 11,751 patients could be free of complications; and, nearly $910 million could be saved if all hospitals achieved the same level of performance as the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals.

This year’s winners were announced Monday in “Modern Healthcare” magazine

The study, now in its 12^th year, singled out 50 hospitals for the first time rather than the traditional practice of naming 100 winners.

“Because the quality of cardiovascular care nationwide has steadily improved during the 12 years Thomson Reuters has been analyzing Medicare data to compile its annual list, the differences between the 100 benchmark hospitals and hospitals in their peer groups have narrowed,” the magazine reported. “As a result, it’s hard to achieve uniquely high performance. “

“We’ve chosen a more elite group of winners this year. These hospitals have raised the bar significantly,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals® program at Thomson Reuters. “They deliver higher survival rates, shorter hospital stays, fewer re-admissions and lower costs — which adds up to enormous value for the communities they serve. As a result, everyone benefits: patients, families, employers, insurers and the hospital itself.

”The study shows that 96 percent of cardiovascular inpatients survive and approximately 93 percent remain complication-free, indicative of improved cardiovascular care across-the-board over the past decade.  The 50 top hospitals’ performance surpasses these high-water marks as indicated by:

• Better risk-adjusted survival rates (33 percent fewer deaths than non-winning hospitals for bypass surgery).
• Lower complications indices (21 percent lower for heart failure complications).
• Fewer patients readmitted to the hospital in the 30 days following discharge.
• Shorter hospital visits and lower costs. Top hospitals discharge heart patients a half day sooner and spend $1,300 less per case than non-winners.

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 2008 and 2009 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, Medicare cost reports, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data.

Hospitals were scored on: 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.

The Genesis Heart Institute is a multidisciplinary association of cardiologists, cardio-thoracic and vascular surgeons who collaborate on the best approach to manage and treat cardiovascular diseases. The Institute provides the latest evidence-based practices for cardiovascular disease. Through the Institute, patients have access to the most advanced devices, drugs, treatment protocols and research.

Thomson-Reuters is the leading provider of business intelligence focusing on managing health are quality and cost.