Hospitals with 5-star ratings have 63% fewer complications than 1-star rated hospitals
A report released in mid-October by HealthGrades, the nation’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings, named Riverwood Healthcare Center among the “top five hospitals in Minnesota for Joint Replacement” for the fourth year in a row.
According to the report, patients in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are increasingly seeking such quality information online, with 671,382 visiting www.HealthGrades.com between January through June of this year. And for good reason: Choosing a hospital can be a life-or-death decision. HealthGrades’ report found that patients treated at 5-star rated hospitals experience a 73% lower risk of mortality and a 63% lower risk of complications.
“We are thrilled to learn that our hospital has once again been recognized for outstanding outcomes for patients who have joint replacement surgery here,” says Michael Hagen, Riverwood CEO. “Our organization is strongly committed to maintaining the highest level of quality throughout our entire spectrum of care and services. We encourage consumers to check our quality ratings at websites such as HealthGrades and others.”
Kerry Hicks, HealthGrades chief executive officer, adds: “Patients today have a wide array of options when it comes to choosing a healthcare provider. At HealthGrades, we are proud to have led the way for empowering patient choice based on objective clinical outcomes and access to actionable quality measures. We commend Riverwood Healthcare Center for its superior quality and support of consumerism and transparency in the Northern Minnesota area.”
Key findings of the HealthGrades 2011 Healthcare Consumerism and Hospital Quality in America report include:
Patients treated in 5-star hospitals were, on average, 63% less likely to experience in-hospital complications than patients at 1-star programs, and had a 43% lower chance of developing an in-hospital complication than the national average.
If all Medicare patients from 2008 through 2010 had gone to 5-star hospitals for their procedures, 164,472 in-hospital complications could have potentially been avoided.
In an online survey, 42% of HealthGrades visitors said that they believe their chances of experiencing an unexpected death or complication is higher in some hospitals in their community compared to others.
About HealthGrades
HealthGrades is America’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality outcomes. HealthGrades’ online properties are the nation’s leading destination for physician searches and empower more than 170 million consumers annually to make informed healthcare decisions. For more information, go to www.HealthGrades.com
