WebMD Medical News
By Todd Zwillich
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 18, 2007 -- Thirty-three hospitals and eight children's hospitals were named top facilities by a health care business group Tuesday.
The facilities, mostly in large cities, got top scores for boosting patient safety standards and for treating high-risk diseases according to scientific evidence. Hospitals also got points if they used electronic prescribing programs.
Hospitals in Oakland, Calif., Pittsburgh, Boston, and Seattle were among those singled out by the Leapfrog Group, a group started by corporations and other large employers worried about health care costs. Children's hospitals in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Detroit were also among top scorers.
The results are based on a survey of 1,285 hospitals.
To score well, hospitals were evaluated in four categories: having intensive care units staffed by specially trained doctors, having computerized order-entry systems for medications and other orders with error-prevention measures, performing procedures such as cardiac catheterization and caring for certain high-risk neonatal conditions, and performing safe practices such as those designed to control hospital-related infections and cut down on medication and treatment errors.
"It's critical that patients select hospitals with adequate experience and a proven track record," says Suzanne Delbanco, CEO of the Leapfrog group.
A growing number of groups, including the federal government, are using report cards to inform consumers about hospital safety. Like this one, the report cards generally measure how often hospitals meet quality and safety standards but don't measure how many patients actually get better or survive their illnesses.
Delbanco says that despite progress, only 10% of hospitals surveyed use computerized systems to keep track of doctors' orders.
Hospitals are also behind on infection control, she says. Only one-quarter of hospitals surveyed fully met the report's standards for optimal infection control. And only 36% of hospitals have "adequate" hand washing procedures in place for all employees, Delbanco says.
"Historically hospitals and docs have believed that hospital-acquired infections are just part of health care," she told reporters Tuesday.
The 33 hospitals earning top scores were:
The eight top children's hospitals are:
Here are the most recent story comments.View All
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of KOKI FOX23 - Tulsa
The Health News section does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
