OCH Regional Medical Center has received a 5-star rating for the quality of its orthopedic care from Healthgrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital. This recognition is part of new findings released in American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation. This study evaluates the performance of approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across nearly 30 procedures and conditions. A 5-star quality measurement indicates that OCH’s clinical performance is better than expected.
“I am very proud of the contributions of all our hospital staff members working with our orthopedic surgeons and the medical doctors for making this designation possible,” said OCH CEO/Administrator Richard Hilton. “This 5 star rating from an objective source allows patients to make a better informed decision about their healthcare. It also exemplifies our commitment to quality by providing our community with the highest level of care,” he added.
Hospital quality and clinical outcomes are more important to consumers than hospital reputation, according to the June 2012 Assessment of Preferences, Behavior and Decision-Drivers report by Stax Inc. When selecting a hospital, 64% would select a hospital receiving 5 stars in a specialty that is relevant to them over good reputation in the community. Healthgrades bases its objective hospital quality measures solely on clinical performance and updates them annually, free to the public. The 2013 performance outcomes are now available at www.healthgrades.com.
For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 40 million Medicare hospitalization records for services performed from 2009-2011 at approximately 4,500 short-term, acute care hospitals nationwide. Healthgrades found that patients treated in hospitals receiving 5 stars had, on average, 75% lower risk of dying than if they were treated at hospitals receiving 1 star (across 18 common procedures and diagnoses, such as heart bypass surgery, stroke and pneumonia).
In this year’s report, Healthgrades also analyzed findings over its last five study periods (2005-2011) to provide an overview of trends in hospital quality over a longer period. Among its key findings, Healthgrades found that the nation’s average in-hospital, risk-adjusted mortality rate improved 22% for procedures and conditions studied by Healthgrades over the last seven years.
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 are upon hospital admission.
OCH has three orthopedic surgeons on staff including Todd Smith, MD, Michael Cox, MD, and Allen Butler, MD. Drs. Smith and Cox practice at Starkville Orthopedic Clinic, 662-320-4008. Dr. Butler practices at Mississippi Bone and Joint Clinic, 662-323-9908.
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