St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital announced today it is the only hospital in the Texas Medical Center to receive the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence three years in a row. One of only 270 hospitals in the nation to receive this award, St. Luke’s placed in the top five percent of the nation’s nearly 5,000 non-federal hospitals for overall clinical quality in an independent study released today by HealthGrades, the leading healthcare ratings company.
“Receiving this prestigious award for the third time is a testament to our dedication to provide excellent quality care for our patients,” said David C. Pate, MD, JD, chief executive officer, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and senior vice president, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. “Our doctors, nurses and staff are committed to excellence in patient care and their efforts help us attain national recognition year after year.”
According to the study, Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence had mortality rates that were, on average, 27 percent lower than other hospitals, and major complication rates that were eight percent lower. The study also showed that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence are improving at a greater rate in more procedures and diagnoses than all other hospitals, lowering risk-adjusted mortality rates, by an average of 18 percent over the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.
For seven years, HealthGrades has conducted the most comprehensive studies of hospital quality in America, producing ratings for every non-federal hospital. In this year’s study, HealthGrades analyzed almost 41 million Medicare hospitalization records covering the latest three-year period, from 2005 to 2007. Because the hospitalization records come from the federal government, no hospital can opt in or out of HealthGrades’ rating process. The analysis is risk-adjusted to account for differences in patient populations between hospitals.
“Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence comprise an unparalleled group of hospitals that excel across the board, not just in one or two specialties; and they should be commended for their relentless commitment to exceptional patient care. Patients should expect and demand the same level of care at all hospitals,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades senior physician consultant, and an author of the study.
In addition, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital ranked in the top five percent in the nation, receiving the following HealthGrades Specialty Awards: Cardiac Care Excellence Award in 2009, Coronary Intervention Excellence Award in 2009, Stroke Care Excellence Award for 5 years in a row (2005 – 2009), Pulmonary Care Excellence Award for 5 years in a row (2005 – 2009), Vascular Surgery Excellence Award for 2 years in a row (2008 & 2009), Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award for 5 years in a row (2005 – 2009), Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award in 2009, Critical Care Excellence Award in 2009, General Surgery Excellence Award in 2009 and Women’s Stroke Services in 2008/2009.
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