Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The clinical quality at Via Christi Regional Medical Center ranks among the top 5% in the nation for a fourth year in a row, according to a study released today.

The study by HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization, analyzed patient outcomes at each of the nation’s 5,000 nonfederal hospitals over the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 and named hospitals in the top 5% as HealthGrades Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™.

Via Christi, one of only 269 hospitals to receive this distinction from HealthGrades, is the only Wichita hospital recipient. It is one of only 120 hospitals in the country to make the list of top-performing hospitals for four years in a row.

"It's reaffirming to receive this recognition of the dedicated physicians and staff who serve at Via Christi and their commitment to attaining and sustaining quality outcomes for patients and families," said Michalene Maringer, president and CEO of the Via Christi Wichita Health Network. "I'm pleased to receive this award on their behalf."

According to the eighth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, Via Christi and the other hospitals in the top 5% demonstrated patient outcomes that far exceeded those of other hospitals. The risk-adjusted mortality rates for patients admitted to these hospitals were, on average, 29% lower than all other hospitals. Risk-adjusted complication rates were, on average, 9% lower than all other hospitals.

“Our data show that only a select few hospitals achieve high-quality patient outcomes not just in a few categories of care, but across the board and over time,” said Rick May, MD, a vice president with HealthGrades and an author of the study. “Patients in communities with a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence should feel proud of the hospital’s accomplishments, and confident that the level of care there is among the very best in the nation.

"Patients who choose to receive their care at a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence certainly will have a lower risk for an adverse clinical outcome relative to all other hospitals.”

As a group, Via Christi and those identified as being in the top 5% in the nation improved their mortality rates at a faster pace than all other hospitals. Over the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, the HealthGrades study found that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence lowered their risk-adjusted mortality rates over the three years by an average of 14%, compared with a 10% average improvement of all other hospitals.

Via Christi also ranks No. 1 in the state of Kansas for overall cardiac, stroke, pulmonary and critical care, according to HealthGrades 2010 ratings.