Medicare patients at top-rated hospitals are 27 percent less likely to die

The “HealthGrades” Seventh Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study identifies hospitals in the top five percent nationally in terms of mortality and complication rates across 26 procedures and diagnoses, from heart attacks to total knee replacement. Hospitals achieving this level of care are designated as 'Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence' by HealthGrades and are identified on the organization's consumer Web site, HealthGrades.com. Many hospitals excel in a given service line, but what differentiates these top hospitals is their quality achievement across a broad range of procedures and treatments. “This study echoes others that have found distinct quality gaps between top-performing hospitals and others,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades senior physician consultant and an author of the study.