Saints Mary and Elizabeth Ranks in Top 5 Percent of Hospitals Nationwide – Three Years in a Row!
Russell Milligan
Published: January 24, 2012
Chicago, Ill. – January 24, 2012 – In a new healthcare quality study, Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (SMEMC) ranked among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for clinical performance and was named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™. This is the third consecutive year the hospital has earned this distinction as a top-performing hospital.
SMEMC is only one of four hospitals in Chicago, 20 in Illinois and 263 nationwide to earn this distinction in 2012. The medical center is the only hospital in Chicago to receive the recognition three years in a row – joining nine others in Illinois and 104 nationally.
The results were published in HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, released on Jan. 24. The study objectively identified those hospitals with the best overall clinical performance across 26 medical diagnoses and procedures – from bypass surgery to hip replacement to stroke care. The 10th annual study evaluated all of the nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals in the country. HealthGrades, an independent health-care rating company, conducted the study to help consumers evaluate and compare hospital performance.
“Achieving this recognition three years in a row shows our commitment to delivering the highest quality care to our patients,” said Margaret McDermott, CEO/executive vice president, SMEMC. “I am proud of our team of doctors, nurses and staff who provide outstanding care across many specialties. Patients have access to a top-performing hospital – right in their own community.”
The study found inpatients were 30.07 percent less likely to die and 1.86 percent less likely to suffer from in-hospital complications at a hospital ranking in the top 5 percent in the nation compared to other facilities. Data is risk-adjusted so that hospitals treating higher volumes of sicker patients could be compared equally with other hospitals.
In fact, if all hospitals performed at the level of these distinguished hospitals, 165,704 Medicare lives could potentially have been saved and 6,800 Medicare in-hospital complications could have potentially been avoided.
HealthGrades’ analysis is based on approximately 40 million Medicare discharges for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Using these top-performing hospitals as a benchmark in this year’s study, HealthGrades quantifies the impact of differences in hospital quality in terms of lives lost and unexpected complications.
Click here to read the full study/methodology or visit the HealthGrades website.
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About Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (SMEMC)
SMEMC is a premier medical center on Chicago’s near northwest side and includes the: Saint Mary Campus, 2233 W. Division St., and Saint Elizabeth Campus, 1431 N. Claremont Ave. For 2012, HealthGrades named SMEMC one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for general surgery and gastrointestinal (GI) care. For three years in a row (2010-2012), SMEMC was among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for clinical performance – earning Healthgrades’ Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. The Saint Mary Campus is certified as a Primary Stroke Center and accredited as a Chest Pain Center. The hospital specializes in behavioral health, cardiac care, digestive diseases, emergency services, neuroscience services, obstetrics, primary care and wound healing. SMEMC also ranks No. 22 in "U.S. News & World Report's" 2011-12 "Best Hospitals" in the Chicago metro area. Visit our website at smemc.reshealth.org.
About the New Healthcare Organization
The new ministry is a family of Catholic, not-for profit, healthcare services providing advanced medical care and exceptional service with compassion and hope. With locations in Chicago and its collar counties, as well as in East-Central Illinois, it is the largest Catholic health provider in Illinois, encompassing 12 hospitals, 28 long term care and senior residential facilities, numerous outpatient services, clinics, home health services, hospice, private duty, and comprehensive Behavioral Health services. The new ministry is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary and the Sisters of the Holy Family, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Sisters of the Resurrection. Visit www.provena.org and www.reshealth.org to learn more about these ministries.
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