You know me, I’m always looking at top 10 lists. Today HealthGrades released it’s annual America’s top 50 hospital report.
The list is based on Medicare data on mortality, in-hospital complications, and HealthGrades’ Distinguished Hospital Award in clinical excellence. And the data specifically focus on 27 procedures and diagnoses, including heart attack, hip fracture, pneumonia, and stroke, but not cancer.
Here is the full list of the 50 best hospitals in the U.S. in alphabetical order, which is how they appear in HealthGrades’ 2008 report.
* Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio
* Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
* Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Ky.
* Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Fla.
* Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
* Centura Health-Penrose St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, Colo.
* Christ Hospital in Cincinnati
* CJW Medical Center — Chippenham Campus in Richmond, Va.
* Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland
* Community Hospital in Munster, Ind.
* Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati
* Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fla.
* Easton Hospital in Easton, Pa.
* Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (including Highland Park Hospital) in Evanston, Ill. and Highland Park, Ill.
* Fairview Hospital in Cleveland
* Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Mich.
* Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center in Glendale, Calif.
* Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles
* Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J.
* Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.
* Henrico Doctors’ Hospital (including Henrico Doctors’ Hospital-Parham) in Richmond, Va.
* Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Ohio
* Holms Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla.
* Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
* Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va.
* Jewish Hospital (including St. Mary and St. Elizabeth Hospital) in Louisville, Ky.
* Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pa.
* Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, Fla.
* Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa.
* Main Line Hospitals — Lankenau in Wynnewood, Pa.
* Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix
* Memorial Healthcare System in Chattanooga, Tenn.
* Mercy Hospital Scranton in Scranton, Pa.
* Mission Hospitals (including St. Joseph’s Hospital) in Asheville, N.C.
* Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Fla.
* Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Mich.
* Ocala Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Fla.
* Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Garden, Fla.
* Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas
* Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie, Ill.
* St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta
* Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla.
* Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio
* St. Elizabeth Medical Center — South in Edgewood, Ky.
* St. John’s Hospital Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
* St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo.
* St. Luke’s Hospital (including St. Luke’s Hospital — Allentown campus) in Bethlehem, Pa. and Allentown, Pa.
* St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
* Summa Health Systems Hospitals in Akron, Ohio
* William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
Source: HealthGrades
I think it is important to know the status of the health care facilities in your area. Unfortunately, with the health industry is the way it is today, there are often wide gaps in the quality of service and medical care provided at different hospitals. When I was a young man working as a cop in NY City, there is a hospital (which I will not name here) that was awful at the time. The unwritten rule amongst cops was “If you’re shot while standing in the emergency room of ‘that hospital’, have your partner drag you to the squad car and race you to Colombia Presbyterian instead.” I tell you, the place was in bad shape back then. I can’t tell you what shape that hospital is in today, so I am leaving the nake out here. Once again, thanks for an informative post, Elaine. -Mike.
You like top ten lists? Well, you’re in my top ten. Thanks for sharing Elaine.
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Hi Elaine,
Interesting how none of the largest cities have any of their hospitals on this list.
I hear by 2017, about 20% of US GDP will go to healthcare, unless we are actually going to do something about it. (4.3 Trillion on a projected 20 Trillion economy.)
Since you work it, what are 3-5 things that could reduce costs, improve care and cover people appropriately? (Just opinion – not necessarily numbers…)
Hello all,
The hospital and healthcare system cost economies an awful lot of money, here in Australia there is much debate on the need to improve efficiencies whilst maintaining medical accessibility to all. Interestingly, Mayo arguably on of the world’s best is, I am told, privately funded and yet provides exceptional service to patients and their families.
One of the best hospitals in my city, The Epworth, having a reputation for having some of the most advanced medical and surgical services in Australia, receives no funding from the Government and relies on contributions from the community, some compensation from private health care funds, and the generosity of those who support it through charitable donations.
Of course, I am not suggesting that Government should not play a role but it’s also important for hospitals to have a properly managed fundraising arm as every major City has many wonderful people who are willing to contribute.
Huh, that’s interesting about Bay Medical Center in Panama City, FL.
We were there a year ago, at 4 o clock in the morning, when my kid woke up with severe wrist pain. He did indeed receive excellent care.
I think Otto makes a very good point about (private) fundraising; this is also important for schools.
Elaine,
Was pleased to see that Virginia had 3 representations on the list and I am personally familiar with the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA. They did provide excellent medical care.
As you already know, I am not a proponent of nationalized health care. Having experienced both kinds now…my opinion hasn’t changed…and I am more against it than I ever was.
If you wanted to know why… I would happily explain it…lol.
As usual…enjoyed everyone’s perspective and comments.
Yes – nationalized health care will marginally decrease the quality of care but not enough to be against it. Detractors of nationalized health care might as well say I don’t care about the ordinary man struggling to make a living as long as I’m ok.