ALBANY, GA (WALB) -
With information from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital announced that it earned a top ranking in Georgia for Vascular Surgery. The claim was made based on a new report from Healthgrades, a leading information clearinghouse, whose purpose is to help consumers make an informed health care decisions.
Phoebe Putney reported that the hospital is in the top 5% nationally, and a won the Healthgrades Vascular Surgery Excellence Award four years in a row.
The report, American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation evaluates how approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide performed on risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for nearly 30 of the most common conditions treated and procedures performed from 2009 through 2011.
Healthgrades found that patients have a 75% lower risk of dying when treated at a hospital receiving 5 stars than if they were treated at a hospital receiving 1 star.
This is based on risk-adjusted mortality rates across 18 common procedures and diagnoses, such as heart bypass surgery, stroke, and pneumonia.
According to new research conducted by Harris Interactive for Healthgrades, 89% of Americans in 27 top designated market areas believe hospital performance (defined as how well patients do at that hospital compared to others) is important but only 37% know where to find the information.
Notable Healthgrades recognitions include:
Vascular
· Recipient of the Healthgrades Vascular Surgery Excellence Award™ for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013)
· Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Vascular Surgery in 2013
· Ranked #1 in GA for Vascular Surgery in 2013
· Ranked Among the Top 5 in GA for Vascular Surgery for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013) Five-Star Recipient for Vascular Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)
· Five-Star Recipient for Carotid Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)
· Five-Star Recipient for Peripheral Vascular Bypass for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013)
"This designation in vascular surgery demonstrates excellence," said Joe Austin chief operating officer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. "It's indicative of the outstanding efforts of our surgeons and the entire Phoebe team who focus on the quality of care for our patients."
Dan Martin, MD., medical director of the vascular program, said the focus on quality initiatives has been key in achieving recognition for quality. "We are protocol-driven because we know improvement requires consistency," he said. "A team approach to care allows us to manage cases with clinical outcomes in mind."
Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of being measured, and no hospital pays to be measured. Healthgrades risk adjusts for patient demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors, thereby taking into account how sick patients were before they were admitted to the hospital.
Click HERE for more information on the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation.
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