UAB Hospital was recently named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson HealthTM. The study spotlights the top-performing cardiovascular hospitals in the United States based on a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical, operational and patient satisfaction metrics and data.
This study is part of the IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® program, using independent and objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance in key clinical and operational areas for selected cardiovascular procedures and medical care. Indicators include risk-adjusted inpatient mortality index, risk-adjusted complications index, mean 30-day risk-adjusted mortality rate, mean 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate, severity-adjusted length of stay, case mix- and wage-adjusted inpatient cost per case, 30-day episode payment, and adjusted operating profit margin. The study has been conducted annually since 1998.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by IBM Watson Health,” said James Davies, M.D., director of the UAB Cardiovascular Institute and division director of Cardiothoracic Surgery. “UAB’s nationally ranked cardiovascular services offer the full spectrum of cardiovascular care. Our goal is to ensure that patients obtain the best treatment possible with the most state-of-the-art technology available.”
Based on the results of this year’s study, IBM Watson Health extrapolated that, if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:
- More than 11,000 additional lives could be saved;
- More than 2,800 additional heart patients could be complication-free; and
- Over $1.5 billion could be saved.
“By finding ways to continuously improve and innovate, the winners of our 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study are identifying opportunities to deliver health care value to patients, communities and payers,” said Ekta Punwani, 100 Top Hospitals® program leader at IBM Watson Health. “The top-performing hospitals demonstrated better clinical care and were more efficient than their peers at delivering this care.”
The winning hospitals were announced Nov. 19.
For more information, visit www.100tophospitals.com.