Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center announced today that it has been recognized with a five-star rating for clinical excellence in bariatric surgery from HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization. HealthGrades' analysis includes gastric bypass and laparoscopic procedures.
In creating the ratings, HealthGrades analyzed the outcomes of patients in hospitals in 17 states over the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. According to the analysis, large quality gaps existed between the "best" and the "worst" hospitals for most bariatric procedures studied. Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is one of 101 hospitals nationally to receive a five-star rating from HealthGrades.
For many people who are morbidly overweight, bariatric surgery can be a life-saver that not only allows them to drastically lose pounds, but can also reduce their chronic illnesses associated with obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease," said Dr.
Philippe Quilici, a minimally invasive surgeon at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. "I am proud to know that HealthGrades has rated our bariatric program as among the best in the nation."
Hospitals whose lower complication rates resulted in a five-star rating from HealthGrades had, on average, twice the number of procedures during the three-year period than one-star rated hospitals. The length of an average hospital stay was 18 percent shorter for five-star hospitals than one-star hospitals.
For its 2007 bariatric surgery ratings, HealthGrades independently analyzed the quality of care at hospitals in the 17 states that publish outcomes data, objectively assessing their clinical performance and quality. HealthGrades risk-adjusted the data to account for hospitals with differing patient populations.
Hospitals with risk-adjusted complication rates in the lowest 15 percent received a five-star rating. The 70 percent of hospitals with complication rates that were as expected received a three-star rating, and hospitals with complication rates in the highest 15 percent received a one-star rating.
"HealthGrades' ratings show that the quality of bariatric surgery varies widely from hospital to hospital," explained Dr.
Samantha Collier, HealthGrades' vice president of medical affairs. "But it's important that people know that Providence Saint Joseph Medical Centerhad among the lowest complication rates in the nation for bariatric surgery, and area residents should take comfort in knowing that."
HealthGrades' bariatric surgery ratings are published, free of charge, on the HealthGrades consumer Web site,
www.healthgrades.com.
About Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, founded in 1943, is a comprehensive not-for-profit health care organization, sponsored by the Sisters of Providence. Comprised of 448 licensed beds, the Medical Center is the largest hospital in the San Fernando Valley, with more than 650 physicians, and 2,000 employees and volunteers on staff. Providence Saint Joseph is known for its state-of-the-art technology and the high quality compassionate care provided by its physicians, nurses and ancillary staff. The medical center also offers services through its cancer center, heart center, acute rehabilitation services, women's services and emergency department.
About HealthGradesHealthGrades (Nasdaq:HGRD) is the leading healthcare ratings company, providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes and physicians to consumers, corporations, health plans and hospitals. Millions of consumers and hundreds of the nation's largest employers, health plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades' independent ratings to make healthcare decisions based on the quality of care. More information on the company can be found at
www.healthgrades.com.